GANBA!! Interactive Ninja Training Show Makes World Premiere at Edinburgh Fringe 2025

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is never short of surprises, but this August brings something genuinely unlike anything else on the programme. GANBA!!, a brand-new interactive ninja training show designed for the whole family, will make its world premiere at Underbelly Bristo Square from 5 to 16 August 2025. First-look production photos from the show's final dress rehearsal in New York have now been released, giving audiences a tantalising glimpse of what to expect when the ninjas arrive in Edinburgh.

Created by Face Off Unlimited, the team behind the internationally acclaimed comedy game show BATSU!, GANBA!! promises a unique blend of physical comedy, audience participation, and genuine theatrical spectacle. It is the kind of show that could only thrive in the electric, anything-goes atmosphere of the Fringe.

What Is GANBA!! All About?

The concept is brilliantly simple and endlessly entertaining. Audience members enter a dojo and train as ninjas in a high-energy, interactive comedy experience. Families and friends can join the action together, taking on a series of ridiculous challenges designed to test focus, teamwork, and the ability to rise to the moment. The show invites you to awaken your inner warrior spirit, though it does so with tongue firmly in cheek.

There is a catch, of course. A mischievous character known as the Spirit of Batsu watches over the proceedings, ready to disrupt your training at every turn. To succeed, participants need to work together and throw themselves wholeheartedly into the chaos. The show's title is itself a rallying cry: "Ganba" comes from the Japanese expression "ganbatte," meaning to do your best, to persevere, to go for it.

The Team Behind the Show

GANBA!! has been created by Jay Painter, Joe Tex, and Brian Walters, with Painter also serving as director. The cast features Mariko Iwasa as Sensei Marika, Yurika Ono as Shinobi Yurika, Rina Maejima as Shinobi Rina, Steve Zegers as Deshi Steve, and Brian "Bu-Chan" Walters as Batsu no Akuma. Heather Shields serves as executive producer, with Justin C. Schilling as technical director.

The creative team brings considerable pedigree in immersive, interactive performance. Their previous production, BATSU!, has been a phenomenon in New York and beyond, attracting ecstatic notices from major outlets. Playbill described it as "truly our favourite thing we've ever seen, anywhere," while the BBC praised its "two hours of sprawling entertainment." The Wee Review called it "ridiculous, hilarious, sexy, gross" and, crucially, "addictive." Chicago Sun-Times noted that "audiences roared with laughter." With that track record, expectations for GANBA!! are understandably high.

Why the Edinburgh Fringe Is the Perfect Launchpad

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has long been the world's greatest proving ground for innovative, interactive, and immersive theatre. From one-person shows in tiny rooms to vast spectacles, the Fringe rewards bold ideas and genuine audience connection. GANBA!! seems tailor-made for this environment: a show that breaks down the fourth wall entirely and invites audiences to become the performers.

The production will run at Underbelly Bristo Square's Friesian venue, with performances at 11:05am daily. The morning slot makes it an ideal option for families looking to kick-start their Fringe day with something energetic and memorable. With a run from 5 to 16 August, there are plenty of opportunities to catch what could be one of the surprise hits of the festival.

A special photocall has also been announced for Saturday 8 August, in which the show's ninjas will "take over" George Square, performing outside the Udderbelly Stage. It promises to be a lively spectacle in its own right and a great taster for anyone considering booking tickets.

Interactive Theatre: A Growing Trend

GANBA!! arrives at a moment when interactive and immersive theatre is thriving. London audiences have embraced experiences that put the audience at the centre of the action, from Faulty Towers The Dining Experience to the long-running success of The Play That Goes Wrong, which gleefully blurs the line between cast and crowd. In Edinburgh, the tradition runs even deeper, with the Fringe consistently showcasing the most adventurous audience-participation shows in the world.

What sets GANBA!! apart is its focus on family-friendly interaction. Many immersive shows skew towards adult audiences, but this production is designed for all ages. The ninja training premise gives children and adults alike a clear, fun framework for participation, while the comedy and the ever-present threat of the Spirit of Batsu keep things unpredictable and hilarious.

From New York to Edinburgh: Building International Buzz

Face Off Unlimited is based in New York City, where BATSU! has become one of the city's most beloved live entertainment experiences. CBS NY named it "One of the Best Things To Do In NYC," and the Chicago Tribune praised it as an "affordably priced, bacchanalian Friday night." The jump from downtown Manhattan to the Edinburgh Fringe is a significant step in the company's ambitions to bring their distinctive brand of interactive comedy to international audiences.

The newly released production photos, shot during the final dress rehearsal in New York, show a colourful, high-energy production bursting with personality. The cast are pictured in full ninja regalia, mid-challenge, with expressions ranging from intense concentration to gleeful pandemonium. It is clear that GANBA!! takes its comedy seriously, even if it refuses to take anything else seriously at all.

Should You Book?

If you are heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this August and are looking for something genuinely different, especially if you have children in tow, GANBA!! should be on your radar. The creative team's track record with BATSU! is genuinely impressive, and the concept of a family-friendly, interactive ninja training show sounds like exactly the kind of joyful, participatory experience that makes the Fringe so special.

Performances run daily at 11:05am at Underbelly Bristo Square (Friesian) from 5 to 16 August 2025. Morning shows at the Fringe tend to be the best way to experience family-friendly theatre before the crowds descend, so early booking is advisable.

For those who prefer London theatre, keep an eye on GANBA!! as it builds momentum at the Fringe. Shows that premiere in Edinburgh frequently transfer to London stages, and an interactive ninja experience would be right at home in the capital's thriving Off-West End scene. Browse all the latest new shows and family-friendly productions on our full listings page.