To explore how the set of Fireside Tales was crafted and woven into the narrative, we spoke with the show’s Designer Mydd Pharo, who shared his unique insight into the show’s development.

Mydd's Background and Path to Fireside Tales

Having trained as a theatre designer at Wimbledon School of Art, Mydd explained how they initially felt constrained by formulaic and restrictive work...It was not until after completing that degree and going on to study Fine Art Installation at Falmouth University in Cornwall, where they began to see theatre differently - as a “space for creating environments rather than following rigid forms”.

While developing this approach, they worked with companies like Kneehigh in Cornwall and co-founded a landscape theatre company called Wildworks. 

Mydd has collaborated with Punchdrunk Enrichment for over 15 years now, from small design projects like A Small Tale and supporting other designers on Fallow Cross, to now leading the design on Fireside Tales at Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores.

Bringing Nature to Life in the Set

When asked about the approach to designing the space for Fireside Tales (written and directed by Steve McCourt), Mydd emphasised the importance of integrating the natural environment, not just the titular fire, into the set. “Steve approached me with an early version of the script, and from there we were keen to feature and incorporate all the other elements into the space as well,” they explained. With the timing of the show’s opening - beginning with school shows in September, to the public run through December - they saw an opportunity to situate the set within the darker seasons.

They described their vision as allowing nature to reclaim the space if left unattended. “We wanted it to feel as though it had been left alone for a little while,” they said. “Later in the year, when it gets too cold for gardening, the space gets a little wilder, a little mysterious.”

When explaining the intricacies of creating an outside set within an indoor space, Mydd explained that: “Even though we were creating a space within this space, with the right details, it would feel like walking into the middle of the woodlands - slightly untamed, slightly magical”. They utilised lighting, haze and plant textures into consideration in order to transport audiences to this “off-the-path” woodland world.

Creating an Interactive Space for Children

Every show comes with its challenges, however working with children aged 7-11, Mydd found that they could tap into the sense of magic and wonder that children still believe in - despite living in an era dominated by mobile phones, tablets, and social media from a very young age.

“I remember when I was little, old binoculars and typewriters just felt magical,” they said - highlighting the fascination children have with mysterious objects. “You knew what they were, but you didn’t quite know how they were used. They were mysterious and a bit magical.” This sense of curiosity guided their approach to the design.

After seeing the audience’s reaction for the first time during a dress rehearsal, they described the moment as “magical.” 

“You forget, because you’ve looked at it every day, how it all comes together. Seeing that wonder in a 10-year-old’s eyes is just overwhelming. They burst into the store and explore everything without needing an invitation. It’s beautiful and intense.”

There was a particular moment however, that stood out for Mydd:

“During one rehearsal, a young person picked up a teddy bear and carried it around the whole show, then put it back at the end. Watching them leave was almost heartbreaking - I wanted to just give them the teddy bear. But it’s moments like that that show how the space becomes something very different when it’s populated by them. They really put the final piece of the puzzle in.”

Storytelling through Set Design

Fireside Tales is Steve and Mydd’s first project together. From early May, both spent time discussing the narrative, themes, and energy of the piece, exploring how the space could best serve the story.

“If you listen and attend to something enough, it will tell you what it wants to be. It will tell you what's right. If you force a design because you want it, it often will jar in a space. If you allow yourself to step back…then the piece kind of structures itself. It tells you very quickly.” 

Mydd’s approach to building the world of Fireside Tales is all about being attentive and taking in what the space itself is already communicating to you. This approach is continually practiced during installation, adjusting and refining accordingly.

Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores was designed and developed by Kate Rigby and Casey Jay Andrews in 2023. Mydd highlighted that they were already working with “an incredible palette.” They noted that “coming into something already full, beautiful, and detailed can be tricky, but it’s about finding a balance - how your piece can merge with what’s already there.”

Design is a collaborative process, and Mydd emphasised the importance of working with the wider creative team to establish a cohesive world. They worked closely with Lighting Designer Sarah Readman, Sound Designer Dominic Kennedy and Costume Designer Melissa Simon-Hartman.

Highlighting the value of collaboration, Mydd explained: “When the team collaborates and the elements complement and support each other, the answers tend to come naturally. And if it’s not coming, it probably isn’t the right answer."

Advice for Creatives

To any creatives looking to incorporate immersive design into their work, the biggest takeaway from Mydd’s advice was the value of hands-on experience. “Immersive work should be part of creative exploration,” they explained. “There’s so much to be learnt by creating environments that can be touched, smelt, and inhabited - things you don’t get when creating traditional proscenium stages. There’s a tangibility and a reality that comes from doing it, and you only truly understand that by doing it and keeping at it.”

Do not be intimidated by the scale of immersive work out there. “Because of companies like Punchdrunk, Wildworks, and Punchdrunk Enrichment, so much of this work has been trailblazed. People often look at it and think, ‘I could never do that,’ but actually, we do it every day, in our own homes, in interior design and immersive design. The key is just to get involved.”

Fireside Tales runs at Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores from Sat 6 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026. Tickets from £15 are available here.

If you’re interested in learning more about immersive work, why not join one of our masterclasses or for information about work experience, placements, or job opportunities, head to our jobs page.