“Shakespeare taught me complete dramatic structure, deep themes, and the complexity behind characters’ destinies—all of which had a remarkable influence on my own theatre creation.”
WHO: Zhenchao Ma
WHAT: “The Bear Child is a lively, non-verbal, parent/child drama that blends dance, mime and comedy to portray the joys and chaos of family life. A mischievous child’s imagination turns the home into a playground, while parents balance love, discipline and understanding. With humour and physical storytelling, this inclusive performance allows both children and adults to see themselves in the story. A fun and heartwarming experience for all ages, this show breaks language barriers and speaks directly to the heart.”
WHERE: Fleming Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (Venue 53)
WHEN: 09:20 (55 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is our first time coming to Edinburgh.
I started studying theatre in 2005, and Shakespeare’s plays were a required part of my training. I’ve acted in Shakespeare’s King Lear and directed The Merry Wives of Windsor. Shakespeare taught me complete dramatic structure, deep themes, and the complexity behind characters’ destinies—all of which had a remarkable influence on my own theatre creation. I chose family and parent-child themes for my children’s plays also because of his influence. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is like a grand festival in the world of theatre. We imagine bringing The Bear Child like a family visiting this big Edinburgh family, to exchange ideas, let our Bear Child meet new friends.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
2024 is the fifth year since our theatre company was founded.
Two important members of our company left due to family reasons. Since our company’s creative theme is family, we care deeply about each member’s attitude toward their own family, and we fully supported the efforts they made for their families. Because of this, our performance schedule dropped sharply, and we faced the crisis of disbanding. The remaining members had a deep discussion, and we all felt that The Bear Child is like our own child—we can’t abandon The Bear Child just because some adults left. We have to take responsibility for it, for our theatre company, and also for ourselves. We regained our confidence and decided to start over, taking The Bear Child on the road again.
Tell us about your show.
I am the playwright and director of The Bear Child.
It is independently produced by Beijing Baxun Culture Media Co., Ltd. In August 2019, eight people who were chasing the dream of theatre founded Baxun Culture Media in Beijing, pursuing the dream of theatre and creating performances for more families to see. Our Bear Child has been performed 42 times in 21 cities across China (including Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Nanchang, Dalian, Hainan, Zibo, Weifang, Shangqiu, Baoji, Gu’an, etc.), and four times in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
They are all from China and represent a wide range of genres—our art and theatre performances are here, waiting to be discovered, and we’re proud of every one of them:
Tango in Silk
Tango in Silk is a cross-cultural duet blending the sensual intensity of Argentine tango with the refined elegance of Chinese classical dance. Inspired by 1930s Shanghai, this piece explores themes of longing, cultural dislocation, and romantic duality through lyrical movement and vivid visual storytelling. The choreography evokes both tension and tenderness—where the curve of a wrist in qipao silk meets the pulse of a tango beat. At once intimate and dramatic, it is a fleeting encounter that leaves a lasting impression.
A striking fusion of East and West. Dance, drama, and identity unfold in just one unforgettable act.
Taiwan Season: Whale, Where Are You Going?
Taiwan Season has been highly successful in past Fringes. This unique children’s play is set on a small island and features a wordless, fun family story. It uses ingenious puppetry, nimble physical theatre, and magical shadow play to portray the budding friendship between a lonely old man and a mischievous little boy.
Invisible Space
Invisible Space is an immersive headphone theatre experience using silent disco technology, inspired by the ancient Chinese tale The Legend of the White Snake. Imagining what might have happened to Bai Suzhen after Xu Xian’s death, the piece re-examines the story’s portrayal of great love through sound, movement, and myth.
Cardstock
BL web novelist Mae is about to publish her first print book—but censorship forces her to revise it, triggering backlash from her obsessive fan Lily. As Lily’s buried trauma resurfaces, Mae’s fantasy world begins to unravel, growing increasingly surreal and absurd in this sharp, contemporary exploration of authorship, identity, and power.
Chinese Culture Week
Chinese Culture Week is an intercultural initiative bringing Chinese artists, creators, educators, and performers to one of the world’s largest arts festivals—the Edinburgh Fringe. The programme includes networking events, workshops, exhibitions, and of course, performances!
AH-MA
A lyrical memory play on dementia, loss, and love across generations.
A touching and emotional story about family relationships, a theme deeply resonant with audiences sharing similar background. AH-MA reflects on memory, migration, and intergenerational love with poetic tenderness.
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