Punchdrunk Enrichment Announce The World Premier Of 'Fireside Tales', A New Interactive Production

Punchdrunk Enrichment present

Fireside Tales

As the nights grow colder and the dark draws near, a light glows in the distance. It’s inviting you to take part in the ritual of the fire season.

• 6th December 2025 - 4th January 2026
• Various Performance Times
• Tickets start at £15 pp
• Pay-what-you-can performances available
• Ages 7 - 11 years
• Running Time: 55 minutes

Punchdrunk Enrichment (Enitan’s Game, The Lost Lending Library), pioneers of transformational immersive theatre for young audiences, have announced a brand-new show for Christmas. Fireside Tales, written and directed by Steve McCourt, is an enchanting interactive adventure for children aged 7-11 and their grown-ups, running at Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores in Wembley Park, Brent from 6 December 2025 – 4 January 2026. Tickets from £15 are now on sale at punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk/events/fireside-tales

For thousands of years, people have gathered around fires to share stories. But this tradition is fading, and many are at risk of being lost. Now, a new story has arrived: faint as an ember, not yet ready to be told. It needs help to stay alive. Without care, the fire might fade, be forgotten or take on a dangerous new form.

Fireside Tales is a show about the stories we tell, the ones we pass down, the ones we forget and what happens when we take the time to listen. Audiences are invited to step into a magical world where stories flicker like flames and imagination keeps them burning bright. Developed with schools, Fireside Tales encourages young audiences to draw, write and share their own stories.

Writer and director Steve McCourt said ‘As someone who has dedicated their career to providing platforms for youth voice, ‘Fireside Tales’ stands as an exciting opportunity for the children of Brent and beyond to share their stories with the world. For millennia, we have gathered to share tales of resilience, hope and home — in an increasingly isolating world, it’s essential we hold on to that spark of imagination and the flame of community spirit.’

Punchdrunk Enrichment was founded in 2008 to take the innovative practice of Punchdrunk into communities and schools. Punchdrunk are celebrated as pioneers of a new form of theatre in which roaming audiences experience epic storytelling inside sensory theatrical worlds. Today, Punchdrunk Enrichment is an independent charity creating transformational theatrical experiences for education, community, and family audiences. Previous productions include Enitan’s Game (the first show to be staged in the company’s own unique immersive venue ‘Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores’ in Brent),The Lost Lending Library (Edinburgh International Festival and now touring internationally), Against Captain’s Orders (created in partnership with the National Maritime Museum), Greenhive Green (which took place in a care home for older people including those with dementia) and digital experiences The Wild Visitor and Our Home Story.

Brent based theatre maker and educator Steve McCourt has created work alongside some of the most celebrated companies (Tall Stories, Blind Summit, Improbable) on some of the world’s most recognised stages including the West End (The Lyric, The Vaudeville), Sydney Opera House and Bregenzer Festspiele. His work ignites intergenerational conversation and champions youth voice as a driver for change. Originally trained as a performer, Steve is an Associate Artist of The Arts Centre, Hounslow and Associate Director at Punchdrunk Enrichment.

Punchdrunk Enrichment are based in Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores in Wembley Park. Their mission is to celebrate the power of the imagination and storytelling to empower young people to be the best that they can be, whilst offering training for educators and artists and providing support for local creatives. Brent residents can get a 20% discount on tickets for Fireside Tales by signing up to the mailing list punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk/mailing-list

An open casting call for London-based performers to join the cast of Fireside Tales will be held as part of Punchdrunk Enrichment’s ongoing commitment to connect with new voices. Applicants must have experience of creating, facilitating or performing theatre work for young audiences. For more details please visit punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk/jobs/casting-call.

Ticket & Show Information:

Tickets are available from punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk/events/fireside-tales

• Sat 6 December £15
• All other performances, tickets from £17.50
• 20% discount for Brent Residents, sign up to the mailing list to get your discount at punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk/mailing-list

Fireside Tales has been created in collaboration with an access consultant and is designed to be welcoming for all children, including those with SEN or additional needs.

• BSL performance – Sat 3 Jan, 11am (also pay what you can)
• Relaxed (reduced capacity) performance – Sun 4 Jan, 11am (also pay what you can)
• Additional pay what you can performance - Sun 7 Dec, 4pm

Schools Performances:

• £12 (non fee paying school)
• £15 (fee paying school) – includes 1 free adult ticket per 10 pupils booked.
• Tue 9 Dec - Fri 12 Dec, Tue 16 Dec - Fri 19 Dec (10am, 11.30am, 13.30am)
  

Although our regular performances are for adults accompanied by a child, we are offering an opportunity for adults to see ‘Fireside Tales’ without children.

‘Grown-ups only’ performances £55.

Tickets include a free drink and post-show Q&A.

• Fri 12 Dec, 7.30pm
• Fri 2 Jan. 7.30pm
  

Punchdrunk Enrichment is supported by Arts Council England

About Punchdrunk Enrichment

Punchdrunk Enrichment is a charity creating transformational theatrical experiences for education, community, and family audiences. They devise immersive productions and projects that have a powerful impact by placing people at the heart of an unforgettable journey. Through their adventurous, high-quality approach to storytelling they champion the imagination.

Punchdrunk Enrichment was founded by Artistic Director Peter Higgin in 2008 to take the innovative practice of Punchdrunk into communities and schools. Founded by Felix Barrett, Punchdrunk are celebrated as pioneers of a new form of theatre in which roaming audiences experience epic storytelling inside sensory theatrical worlds.

Since its inception, Punchdrunk Enrichment has delivered a wide range of projects in a variety of settings. Today, Punchdrunk Enrichment is an independent charity dedicated to creating experiences for as wide an audience as possible.

Punchdrunk Enrichment’s programme includes immersive projects for whole primary schools such as Route 158, along with teacher-led adventures including A Small Tale for Years 1-4, The Creature Chronicles for Years 2-3 and The Vanishing Land for Years 5-6.

They support teachers in developing sustainable creative practice. In 2021, they launched Immersive Learning Journeys, a three-year programme in eight Greenwich primary schools, exploring the long-term impact of immersive learning. Their mentoring project equipped teachers to create their own immersive experiences with support from Directors and Designers. Researchers and academics evaluated the programme, with findings published at The Immersive Learning Festival in November 2024.

Past projects for communities and families include Enitan’s Game, a production for 7-11 year olds and their family which opened their venue in Brent, The Wild Visitor and Our Home Story, digital experiences for children and their parents/carers, Against Captain’s Orders, a family show created in partnership with the National Maritime Museum and Greenhive Green, which took place in a care home for older people including those with dementia. In 2023, they presented a redeveloped version of The Lost Lending Library for family audiences at the Edinburgh International Festival which is now touring internationally.

They are the lead partner of Vi-Brent, a three-year Arts Council England National Lottery Place Partnership programme expanding the borough’s cultural sector. This significant investment will enhance opportunities for children to engage with arts and culture while creating new career pathways for young people.