Fireside Tales by Punchdrunk Enrichment Review
Written by Jasmine for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Punchdrunk Enrichment’s Fireside Tales brings to life a bite-sized world of stories that have minds of their own, creating a wonderful way for children to enjoy and feel a part of a magical, immersive world full of interactive details.
‘Fireside Tales’ holds onto the core wonder that makes immersive work so brilliant, and brings it at a guided level that families can bring their little ones along to. From the moment the show begins, the cast, Rebecca Clark as and Amari Harris, as the two staff of a storytelling shop, make sure every child (and their grown-ups) feels a part of the world. One of the best things about ‘Fireside Tales’ is that it creates so much space for children to speak, to handle the props, tell their own stories, and actively be a part of the show.
This is not a show to just sit and listen in, it is one where your stories become part of it; there are lots of interactive moments, and the actors are brilliant at ensuring each and every child gets the opportunity to have ‘their’ moment so no one feels left out, without it ever feeling like they’re pushing them into participating more than they want to. The cast creates such a comfortable environment that the kids aren’t afraid to stand out. This is a show all about valuing your own voice, own experience, and stories - something we all, young and old, sometimes need a space for. It’s a wonderful takeaway for everyone to have.
It’s also a lot more accessible than a lot of immersive productions; it is wheelchair accessible, just 55 minutes long, and a lot less overstimulating than a larger production can be, so this is a wonderful way for everyone to be able to enjoy some immersive magic. There are grown-up-only shows (which even include a free drink and post-show Q&A) on the 12th December and 2nd January, so it is by no means only for the little ones.
This was also true on the more family centric performance I saw; the core messages hold true for all of us, there are some really fun moments (that I won’t spoil for you here) that give the parents a giggle, and the little world they’ve built is magical, filled to the brim with gorgeous detail and impressive lighting/sound tech.
If you are looking for a really special Christmas activity over the holidays, or a way to start to introduce your 7-11 year olds to theatre in a way that actively includes them and will bring some magic to life, look no further than Fireside Tales. I loved it very much as a grown-up, and this would have been my absolute dream to see as a kid. It’s running until the 4th January 2026 so get moving before all those tickets fly off the shelves!
Plays until 4 January 2026
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
