The pantomime season is in full swing and Pinnochio at the Chicken Shed has an award-winning set designer. ALEX KASRIEL talks to Keith Dunne:

Accommodating a cast of 200 plus a donkey in a theatre is a tough brief.

But this is just what the Chicken Shed Theatre's extravagant Christmas production of Pinnochio has demanded from its production designer, Keith Dunne.

"My only concern is if he has an accident during the performance. I've just put some hessian on the floor. Apart from that, the donkey hasn't interfered with my creative process," said Keith.

Recently named The Bbc Vision Bright Spark 200 at the annual competition which seeks out new creative talent, he has been awarded a work placement at the Bbc and will display his Pinnochio theatre model at the National Film Theatre.

"I was terribly excited about the accolade. This means I will be able to forge a career in TV and theatre, which is the idea behind the scheme...TV's a new direction for me. It's less escapist and more practical but I'm happy in both mediums," he said.

About the set itself, Keith explained that it should evoke "a world of dreams".

Surprisingly, Keith's background is neither in art nor theatre.

After spending ten years in the Royal Navy, he was discharged for medical reasons and without an art GCSE to his name. Nevertheless he enrolled in an art foundation course, followed by a BA course in Theatre Design at Central School of St Martin's in central London.

"To be honest, I couldn't even draw," said Keith. It didn't prevent him from going on to create sets for large-scale productions like Rigoletto and Die Fledermaus.

Recently completing the set for Colombian Artists UK's touring production of The Merry Widow and about to complete this current project, this may be Keith's final foray in the world of theatre. He is working on a new drama for ITV1 called Footballers' Wives.

Keith's dream project would be to work on the next James Bond film and with a CV like that, what's to stop him?

Pinnochio runs from December 4 until January 19 at 3.30pm and 7.30pm, at The Chicken Shed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate. Tickets cost £13.75 and can be bought on 020 8292 9222.

December 3, 2001 18:40

ALEX KASRIEL