REVIEW: Are You Lovin’ It?, Theatre Group GUMBO, Colchester Fringe 2026 ★★★★

GUMBO have returned to Colchester Fringe; festival favourites, they herald the return of Are You Lovin’ It? Welcome to WacDonalds Land – home of fast-food capitalism and where all your troubles go to be mushed into an indistinguishable paste and regurgitated back to you.

In Are You Lovin’ It? a WacDonalds mascot introduces us to some archetypal customers, Japanese Business Man and Pink Mama, as they try to persuade us of the changes this fast food can make in our lives. Gumbo use the inverted Golden Arches as a framework to explore American uber-capitalism told through a Japanese gameshow-style lens.

Oversized set and props support the larger-than-life world at the heart of Are You Lovin’ It? while fantastic sound and lighting design heighten the mania throughout. The show is delightfully unapologetically Japanese, with elements of anime, kabuki theatre, Japanese gameshow and even a brief karaoke-style singalong towards the climax. This is a camp, chaotic fever dream of an hour – from its Duracell-bunny energy levels and glorious clowning to the playful menace with which the cast engage the audience.

They don’t hesitate to send up any and all cultures they encounter, playing especially on Western expectations of Japanese culture as they skewer the ills of hyper-capitalism. Sometimes a little ham-fisted in  its politics but in a way that we fully accept because of the charm of the performers, who shine with the love and energy they pour into the hour.

I feel that, ultimately, this is a show about choosing connection over consumption and seeks to remind us that we are one people whatever our background. Whilst WacDonalds food tastes the same wherever you buy it, I feel confident in saying that you’ve never tried something like GUMBO’s Are You Lovin’ It? It’s a wild ride and you’re gonna love it.

Recommended Drink: A super-sized, extra-caffeine energy drink if you want ANY chance of keeping up with GUMBO.

Are You Lovin’ It? continues at the Headgate Theatre on the 24th (8.30pm) and 31st October (5.30pm). Tickets are available via the Colchester Fringe Online Box Office.