Evaluation Report for Tendring District Council
Images of Twelve Yuletide Yarns, being performed at Mayflower Primary School. Photos © Jayne Lloyd
Twelve Yuletide Yarns in R&D and rehearsal in Harwich and Theatre Porto (Ellesmere Port) Photos © Funnelwick Limb (1,4,5,6,7) and @Alice Cannell (2,3)
Contents
1 Introduction, p4
2. The Impact of SPF funding, p5
3. Peer Feedback (across the whole tour), p9
4. What 3 Words - audience feedback, p11
5. Analysis of Essex and Suffolk audiences, p13
6. Appendix 1, Further information p16
7. Appendix 2, Spend against budget p17
The team
The onstage team
Nog, the helper Beccy Hillam, The storyteller Rew Lowe, Egg, the Musician Semay Wu
(The on stage team outside Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre and Mayflower Primary School photo © Jayne Lloyd)
Off stage team
Written by Murray Lachlan Young
Directed by Nina Hajiyianni
Set and puppets by Bek Palmer
Composed by Semay Wu
Produced by Matthew Linley
Produced in association with Theatre Porto and Eastern Angles, together with Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre
1. Introduction
TwelveYuletideYarnswasdesignedasacelebratory WinterproductiondevelopedbyFunnelwickLimb specificallyforchildrenaged6to11 Wewanted -theshowtobeanarchic,poignant,joyful,sillyand serious -andtocelebratethejoyofwordsandstorytelling throughawhirlwindofpoetry,puppetry,and"panto magic"
TheshowcameoutofFunnelwickLimb’sextensive workinschoolsthroughout2024and2025 During thattimewehaddeliveredworkshops,showinaday, assemblyspokenwordperformancesandaudiostory projects-butapartfromasingleperformanceofThe ChroniclesofAtomandLuna neverbeenabletotake afullshowintoschoolsinTendringorindeed elsewhere.
Sowewantedtocreateashowthatwaslightonits feet,andableto‘popupandout’easilyinschools. Ashowthat-asfaraswecould-would removefinancialbarrierstohigh-qualityseasonaltheatre.Bytouringdirectlyintoschoolhalls andcommunityspaces,wewantedtheprojecttoallowchildrentoexperienceaprofessional productionregardlessoftheirfamily’sabilitytopay
TheproductionwasinformedbyanR&DinHarwich(summer2025),communitypopupevents inWivenhoe,BrightlingseaandLexdenandthroughschoolsworksheets(whichaskedchildren whatadventuremightacarrotgoon).
Aswedevelopedtheprojectthreedistincttouringstrandsemerged
● SchoolsandCommunityvenuesinTendringandwiderEssex
● SchoolsinEllesmerePortwithpublicperformancesatTheatrePorto
● SuffolkLibraries:ExtendingthereachintocommunitylibrariesacrossSuffolk
Thisevaluationreportexplorestheimpactoftheprojectacrossitscreationprocessandfirst tourinNov/Dec2025. SpecificallywrittenforTendringDistrictCouncilthefirstpartofthe reportsumarisestheimpactoftheSPFinvestment,whilstthesecondpartconsidersthe widertourimpact.
2.TheimpactofSPFfunding
2.1 Overview
(TwelveYuletideYarnsinperformanceinHarwichArtsCentre,November2026)
Supportedbya£1,000grantfromtheTendringDistrictCouncil(TDC)ExtendtheSeason Eventsscheme,FunnelwickLimbdeliveredaseriesofhigh-quality,family-friendlytheatrical performancesinNovember2025andonintoDecember2025 Theprojectsuccessfully providedfreeculturalaccesstounderservedcommunitiesinHarwichandJaywick, specificallytargetingfamiliesfacingfinancialorgeographicalbarriers.Beyondthecommunity previews,theproductionreachedover1,800youngpeopleandtheirfamilies.
Audiencesdirectlyfundedby SPF AudiencesinTendring Overallaudiencesforthe project
2.2ProjectObjectivesvs.Outcomes
Objective
Deliver4free performancesinHarwich& Jaywick
Reach240audience membersincommunity venues
Targetfirst-time theatre-goers
90%positivefeedbackon quality/value
4communityperformances held Achieved
159attendeesinTendring communityvenues
PartiallyAchieved-122in the4performancesbut 555inTendring
Atleast28attendeeswere "first-time"goers Achieved
75%gave5stars;feedback was"overwhelmingly positive" Achieved
*Note:Whilecommunityvenueattendancewas159,theoverallprojectreach(including schools)exceeded1,500
2.3.AudienceImpactandDemographics
● TargetReach:Theprojectsuccessfullyengageditscoretargetof6–11yearolds,with significantattendancefromthe0–11agegroupandparents(35–44).
● Accessibility:Byofferingfreetickets,theprojectremovedfinancialbarriersforfamilies whodonotregularlyaccesstheatre.
● NewAudiences:IntheSPFsupportedshows28peopleattendedtheirfirst-everlive show,and36peopleattendedtheirfirstshowsincethepreviousChristmas.
2.4.CommunityFeedback(The"VoiceoftheAudience")
Audienceswereaskedtodescribetheshowinthreewords.Themostfrequentresponses included:
● Funny:Universalfeedbackregardingthe"naughtycarrot"character.
● Exciting:Highlightingthehigh-energymovementand"pantomagic".
● Magical:CapturingtheChristmassy,creativespiritoftheproduction. Seealsosection3
2.5EconomicandLocalImpact
“It was great to experience Harwich - an area I’ve not explored deeply for work before” Semay Wu, performer and MD
● LocalEmployment:Theprojectbroughtateamofcreatives includingperformers,a composer,andadesigner toTendringfordevelopmentandrehearsals. Inallthe companywerebasedinHarwichfor5weeks.
● CreativeHub:TheinitiativehelpedestablishFunnelwickLimbasaHarwich-based companyservingtheTendringDistrict.
● VenueSupport:PerformanceswereheldatHarwichArts&HeritageCentreandtheRIBA award-winningJaywickSunspot,strengtheningpartnershipswiththesekeycommunity venues
Furthereconomicimpactdatawillbeavailableoncethefulltourfinancialdataiscomplete
2.6LessonsLearned:Bookingvs.Attendance
1 No-ShowRate:Therewasanotable12%averageno-showrateforbookedtickets
2 Mitigation:Futureprojectswillexplore"walk-in"strategiestofillseatsvacatedby no-shows,assomevenuesalreadysawpositiveresultsfromthisapproach
2.7Conclusion
TheSPFinvestmentprovidedtheessential"matchfunding"requiredtounlocksupportfrom ArtsCouncilEngland.Thiscollaborationensuredthathigh-quality,professionaltheatrewas madeavailableforfreetoTendringfamilies,fosteringcommunityspiritandfestivejoyduring thewinterseason.
2.8
Press Release
At the end of the tour the following press release was issued
Funnelwick Limb’s latest production, Twelve Yuletide Yarns, has concluded a highly successful Yuletide tour across the East and beyond, playing to over 1800 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."
3.PeerFeedback
TheshowwasreviewedtwicewhilstatTheatrePorto
From a mumfluencer/blogger
Twelve Yuletide Yarns at Theatre Porto | Review
“A laugh out loud performance amusing, fast paced and dramatic and really caught the imagination of the audience, adults and children a like”.
From Nigel Smith, Good News Liverpool
Review – 12 Yuletide Yarns – Theatre Porto, Ellesmere Port
“50 minutes of traditional storytelling and enchanting puppetry which holds its young audience transfixed” Four Stars
From Eleanor Root, Suffolk Libraries
Dear Matthew,
I finally got to see Twelve Yuletide Yarns yesterday and it was so gorgeous! I really loved the story of Norman Whelp - I think there are lots of children who need to hear that story, particularly in the run up to Christmas.
We know that many of the families who come to our libraries don't access their local cultural offer due to financial or social justice barriers but do come along to their local library. It's important to our team that we don't just offer accessible opportunities but that they are high-quality too. Twelve Yuletide Yarns, with it's live music, beautiful storytelling, and high-quality staging, meets all of our ambitions to provide the best for our audiences. Thank you - it was quite special to see in our lovely libraries.
One of the librarians' yesterday stopped me to say how many people had told her how brilliant the performance was
Best wishes,
A customer e mail following the library performance (sent to Suffolk Libraries)
"I have been prompted to contact you though, as I (very recently) attended Gainsborough
library for 12 Yuletide Yarns of Christmas. Fantastic. Professional. Engaging. Thought provoking. And Very Clever. Humourous too (side splittingly so), and I have to commend you on your services. I am an avid reader and heartily endorse the diversity shown within these warming beacons. The inclusion and community warms my heart and literary soul."
(photos from 12 Yuletide Yarns in performance in Suffolk Libraries, photos Funnelwick
Limb)
4.What3Words-audiencefeedback
Ateachofthecommunity venues Harwich,Jaywick,Ipswich, Gainsborough,Beccles,Lowstoft, Wivenhoe&BuryStEdmundswe askedaudienceswhat3wordswould theyusetodescribethe performance. Fiveofthesevenues werelibraries,threewerecommunity venues.
Thefeedbackcollectedconsistently highlightsaproductionthatwas vibrant,humorous,anddeeplyengagingforchildren.
1.High-EnergyEmotions
Thefeedbackshowsasignificantsurgeinwordsrelatedtopureexcitementandhappiness.
● KeyWords:Excited(multiplementions),Joyful,Happy,andThrilled.
● Experience:ChildrenfrequentlyusedwordslikeAction,Twists,andMovement, suggestingthephysicalnatureoftheperformancewasamajorhighlight.
2.TheComedy&"TheCarrot"
Theshow’shumorremainsitsmostcitedqualityacrosseverysinglevenue.
● NewHumorDescriptors:Comical,Hilarious,Awesome,Chuckleful,andNaughty carrot!!
● TheCarrot:The"Carrot"continuestobeastandout,withchildrennotingits "naughtiness"andoneevencallingita"carrottop!!!"
3 QualityandWarmth
Thereisastrongthreadof"heart"throughoutthefeedback,withmanychildrenfindingthe showbothhigh-qualityandtouching
● Sentiment:Heartwarming,Beautiful,Moving,Delightful,andLovely
● Praise:Fantastic,Perfect,AmazingShow,Incredible,andVeryverygood.
ConsolidatedWordSummary
Theme
MostFrequent&NotableWords PureJoy
Joyful,Excited,Happy,Fun,Inspiring, Thrilled
Humor
The"Carrot"
Performance
Atmosphere
Funny,Hilarious,Comical,Amusing,Silly, Chuckleful
NaughtyCarrot,Carrotfull,CarrotTop, Carroty,MajesticCarrot
Amazing,Fantastic,Clever,Musical, Professional,Action
Christmassy,Intimate,Heartwarming, Moving,Peaceful,Lovely
Examples of What 3 Words posters
In Summary "Voice of the Audience"
Basedonthecollectivefeedbackfromalllocations,ourthreewordswouldbe:
3 Funny(Universalacrosseveryposter)
4 Exciting(Reflectingthehighenergyoftheshow)
5 Magical(CapturingtheChristmassy,creative,and"carrot-filled"spirit)
5. Analysis of Essex and Suffolk audiences
The project reached a total of 910 attendees across all venue types
● Schools (Essex) (12 shows) were the most significant reach point, accounting for 437 attendees
● Suffolk Libraries (10 shows)followed with 314 attendees
● Community Venues (5 shows) hosted 159 attendees
The attendance was consistently high, with libraries like Ipswich (92) and Lowestoft (75) and community venues like Harwich (90) showing strong engagement
6. Audience Feedback and Satisfaction
The response to the performances was overwhelmingly positive
● High Satisfaction: Out of 257 total ratings received, 193 (75%) were 5-star ratings
● Library Success: Libraries saw a particularly high concentration of 5-star feedback (116 out of 159 responses).
Star Ratings: Shows the high levels of satisfaction across both libraries and community venues
Demographics and Reach
The project successfully engaged younger audiences and families:
● Core Audience: The largest age group represented was 6-11 year olds (the target audience), followed closely by the 0-5 age group and 35-44 year olds (likely parents/guardians).
● Elderly Engagement: There was also participation from the 65+ demographic, particularly in library settings.
