Interview with Steve McCourt, Artistic Director of Punchdrunk Enrichment
Conducted by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic
This year, Punchdrunk Enrichment welcomed Steve McCourt into the fold as the next Artistic Director and Joint CEO. As part of his inaugural season, he has written and directed Fireside Tales, a new production which opens this December. We caught up with Steve to chat about this exciting new chapter for the organisation.
What first attracted you to Punchdrunk Enrichment and inspired you to take on the role of Artistic Director?
I met an actor at a friend’s birthday party who was working with Punchdrunk Enrichment at the time. He told me all about a magical nomadic library that hopped from place to place in search of bold and brave new authors to fill its shelves — naturally, this mission led the library to a lot of primary schools. I was hooked on the idea of wrapping a curricular outcome (in this instance, writing) within a narrative.
A little further down the line, it was announced that the company was moving to Brent and were looking for an Associate Director to join the team. I was successful in my application and have loved every second of my two years working under Pete’s leadership. I’ve always worked in a freelance capacity before joining Punchdrunk Enrichment — it wasn’t long before I realised my practice could do the most good if I was working as part of an organisation with shared values. I committed then that I would stay with the company for as long as I could.
Then, about a year later, Pete announced that he was leaving the post. It was pretty tough news to digest — he’s an exceptional creative and a brilliant leader. The opportunity to apply for roles like this doesn’t come along too often. I promised to grab onto the possibility of leading the company into its future and do my very best not to let go. I’m really honoured to have been offered the gig. There are some big shoes to fill…
Fireside Tales production image. Photo by Nina Photography
You're stepping into the role previously held by Artistic Director and CEO Peter Higgin. What have you learned from observing his leadership and creative approach?
Pete’s the best boss you could ever wish for. I see the role of leading Punchdrunk Enrichment as one of custodianship and will take so much learning from my time with Pete into the company’s next chapter. As Amy (Davies Dolamore - Executive Director and Co CEO) and I are planning the organisation's future, I'm constantly drawn back to Pete’s unwavering belief that the imagination has the power to create change. That’s in the company’s DNA. That belief is, and should remain, one of the driving forces of this organisation.
In your view, what makes Punchdrunk Entertainment such an important gateway for young people to experience immersive theatre?
Our approach is a little different from other pieces for young people. More often than not, children’s first engagement with theatre is sitting down with some other folks watching a story unfold before you. We do things a little differently. In our work, the audience is the protagonist — the hero. It’s their job to shift the story, to move the characters on to the next beat or to save the day in times of crisis. I don’t think there’s another introduction to theatre like it.
Fireside Tales is a new family Christmas production and one of your first projects in this role. What inspired this particular show, and what motivates its creative direction?
It all started through a conversation with Pete. He was keen to create a piece of work that celebrated the age-old tradition of sharing stories around a fire. From there, I got quite into fire as an analogy for both imagination and childhood. Fire can be beautiful, it can dance, it can be destructive and it can be vulnerable. I wanted to make a show that explored those qualities of humanity.
That was the starting point. The show really started to grow as we welcomed more and more creatives and devisers into the room to impart their take on what stories we should share around the fire. For a two hander, there’s a long list of artists who’ve been involved in its creation and I’ve been really honoured to have shared a room with them.
Fireside Tales production image. Photo by Nina Photography
Have you drawn on any of your own experiences to create this show?
In many ways, yes. Whilst not explicit in the show, for a long time, I explored the idea of ‘fire children.’ To me, those are the young folk with a spark that can flit between beauty and joy but also quickly turn to frustration or vulnerability. I was one of those children. I think I’m one of those adults. Maybe we all are. My little fire burns bright most of the time, but like everyone’s, it can quickly be doused, misunderstood. I then started to reflect on the relationships I’d had with children when working in education; the moments I’d helped a young person achieve something that filled their heart with pride and warmth, and the moments where I’d unintentionally thrown a bucket of water over their enthusiasm.
The next step was reflecting on the moments of my childhood when adults had done the same and found a grungy, angsty feeling somewhere deep down. The show explores finding those feelings and letting them go. Rebecca (Clark) devised a beautiful line in rehearsals — “fire can burn the old to make way for the new” — Whilst the line has so many meanings, it's the cathartic one that resonates with me the most.
What have been the most exciting elements of bringing this show to life?
The audience. That’s an easy one to answer. This work doesn’t truly find its feet until the audience is there with us. As I said earlier, the audience takes the part of the main character in our work — until the point we welcome them to the show, we’re a man down.
What can audiences expect from Fireside Tales and how does it differ to other productions they may see over the festive period?
Fireside Tales celebrates our innate need to gather together when the days get shorter and the light starts to fade. There’s a reason so many celebrations, from so many communities, land in winter periods. This show looks at why it’s important for us to gather as a community when things get a little tougher. We’re based in Brent, which is one of the most diverse local authorities in the country. Brent also happens to be my home. I see this place light up each year and see how our home celebrates each and every tradition. The show’s got a similar heart. It’s a show that knows that everyone has a story to tell, and everyone has a right to share their story — that’s our take on a winter celebration.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited to get your teeth into with the turn of a new year?
Tough one. There are a lot of exciting projects in the pipeline, but I’m keen to continue finding new ways to welcome young people to our home. We’ve got a beautiful space, and I’m working with the team to dream up new uses for it.
Finally, why should people see Fireside Tales this year?
Because everyone loves a story! There are a million different ways to tell a story; they might be written, spoken, danced, sung, drawn, or simply dreamt up. There’s room for everyone’s story in the Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores — There’s space for you and your loved ones around the fire, and we look forward to welcoming you to a winter tradition as old as time itself.
Fireside Tales plays at Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores in Wembley Park, London from 6 Dec - 4 January 2026.
