Funnelwick Limb’s latest production, Twelve Yuletide Yarns, has concluded a highly successful Yuletide tour across the East, playing to over 1500 young people and earning lots of "five carroty star reviews".
The show, which was originally developed and made at the Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre, brought high-quality culture directly to schools, libraries, and community venues, removing the barrier of ticket prices for families.
In the Tendring district, the production toured extensively, performing at six primary schools (Bradfield, Wix and Wrabness, Mayflower, St Josephs, Elmstead, and Frinton Primary Schools), as well as playing at the Harwich Arts Centre and Sunspot in Jaywick.
The performance at Mayflower Primary School was attended by key stakeholders, including Councillor Gary Scott (Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tendring), Louisa Steel (Relationship Manager, Arts Council England), and Craig Fitt-Cook and Elaine Downes from the Essex Library Service.
Louisa Steel from Arts Council England said "I loved seeing Twelve Yuletide Yarns, a project we have been able to support through our Project Grants programme thanks to National Lottery players. Alongside the performance it was also great to hear about all the work Funnelwick Limb, Essex Library service and others are doing in Tendring which is truly enriching the cultural life of people in the local community."
Councillor Scott, Tendring District Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture and Heritage, said the council was delighted to support the initiative via the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. "It was a thrill to watch Twelve Yuletide Yarns at Mayflower Primary School,” said Councillor Scott. “This was such a good example of the high-quality cultural offers we are so keen to provide our talented young people here in Tendring. Thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund together with support from Arts Council England, we’re able to support projects like this that raise aspirations and create opportunities for young people here in Tendring."
Elizabeth Bartholomew, Head of Mayflower Primary School, highlighted the deep engagement: "It's been wonderful to work with Funnelwick Limb again. Our pupils got to contribute ideas to the show earlier in the year, we've had workshops, came to the dress rehearsal, and of course our Year 5s got to see the final show in our own school hall."
Matthew Linley, Creative Producer for Funnelwick Limb, confirmed the production's positive reception: "It's been fantastic to be able to share Twelve Yuletide Yarns with our young people. We wanted to bring a bit of Christmas joy without ticket prices being a barrier, and I think we have been able to do just that."
He confirmed the successful tour is just the beginning: "There are lots of schools and libraries this show hasn't played yet, so we are already working towards raising the funding to bring it back next year."
