James Writes Uncurbed Christmas Show

James Varney has written Tiny Tim with members of Uncurbed and on at Contact Theatre, Manchester this December. The collaboration is the result of the Writing SQuad working with Uncurbed to explore their relationship with writers. Beth Westbrook accomnapnied the company on a residential, James Varney subsequently delivered workshops and dramturgy, leading to Tiny Tim.

Tiny Tim isn’t a retelling. It’s a rebellion. Dickens’ A Christmas Carol gave us a boy defined by pity – but now Tim refuses to stay small. Bold, funny, and unapologetic, this reimagining tears up the tale. Forget sainthood and suffering – Tim wants karaoke, chips, and a piña colada.

For nearly two centuries, A Christmas Carol has been retold as a story of redemption and charity. But hidden within is Tiny Tim – a disabled child too often reduced to a symbol of pity and inspiration. That’s the problem. Disabled characters are frequently written as lessons, used as a tool to comfort audiences. Enter Uncurbed Collective – with a new Tim, who refuses to be “Tiny”.

Written by James Varney with the Uncurbed Collective Ensemble – Tiny Tim challenges tradition and dares to change the narrative.

Uncurbed Collective is a disabled-led company making bold, unapologetic work that challenges “the accepted” and redefines what theatre can be.

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