The Gummy Bears’ Great War – ZOO Playground

Told using actual gummy bears, The Gummy Bears’ Great War makes for an intriguing diversion with a bite-sized runtime.

Told over seven distinct chapters and spanning a single day – from sunrise to sunset – the branching plots follows three Gummy Bears as their nation decides to spontaneously declare a futile war against the neighbouring Dinosaurs. The action plays out on a table, with the two performers – Valentina Fadda and Leonardo Tomasi – puppeteering the tiny, brightly-coloured protagonists and hundreds of other characters, as well as lighting each scene with a variety of lamps, torches, and LEDs. Italian narration is provided by Fadda, Leonarda, and a pre-recorded voiceover, with English captions projected onto the back wall of the intimate space.

The piece moves at a slow, methodical pace. Most of the plot is build-up: the protagonists wake up, war is declared, the Dinosaurs ponder how to respond to the declaration of war, and so on. It is not until near the end of the runtime that the first battle in the conflict takes place. This is a subdued, introspective meditation on the futility of war rather than an action-packed war epic. Fadda and Tomasi perform with admirable sincerity, doing their best to add weight and depth to proceedings. Unfortunately, none of the characters are fleshed out enough for any of the would-be poignant moments to have an impact. However, there is plenty of laugh-out-loud humour to keep things entertaining.

Some visual oversights mildly hamper the piece too. Occasionally, the projected English subtitles are blocked by the performers, and often the final letter of a sentence is distractingly obscured by the corner of the room. Also, the second row of seats is on the same level as the first, which results in some obstructed views.

Overall, The Gummy Bears’ Great War is well worth giving up thirty minutes of your time to see, for the novelty factor and for the performers’ commitment and enthusiasm. Its run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe is selling out fast, so book tickets while you can! The show runs until 24th August. Book tickets at https://www.edfringe.com/tickets

Reviewer: Charles Edward Pipe

Reviewed: 15th August 2025

North West End UK Rating: