Tiny Tim
For nearly two centuries, A Christmas Carol has been retold as a story of redemption and charity. But hidden within sits Tiny Tim – a disabled child written as nothing more than a symbol of pity and inspiration.
That’s the problem. Disabled characters are too often reduced to lessons, used as a tool to comfort audiences.
This production is a rebellion. Exploring themes of agency and independence, Tim refuses to be “Tiny”. It forces audiences to see the world through Tim’s perspective and to reckon with who gets to shape the story.
Bold, funny, and unapologetic, Tiny Tim is for anyone who loves theatre that challenges tradition and dares to change the narrative.
Why Tiny Tim?
We’ve been searching for Tim for years.
First, we asked: where are the disabled characters who aren’t villains, sidekicks, or symbols? The answer wasn’t promising:
- Captain Hook… too evil
- Quasimodo… used as a spectacle
- Rumpelstiltskin… too wicked
- Caliban… too monstrous
Everywhere we looked, disability was either a shorthand for wickedness or a prop for someone else’s redemption.
Then came A Christmas Carol. Here was Tiny Tim – not evil, not monstrous. But also not alive as a character. He had no story beyond pity, suffering, and charity. He was a lesson, not a person.
Who is Tim?
We started with questions. Who is Tim, beyond Dickens’ fragile boy? What story does he deserve? Since 2018, we’ve been experimenting, devising, and collaborating to create his narrative – bringing together lived experiences and using theatre as a space to test, play, and see what’s possible.
Finding Tim
Since 2018, we’ve been working with the idea of Tim. Trying to “find” him.
- In 2018, we started with ‘Scrooge’ – a darker, cat-killing Tim that pushed against saintliness.
- Then, in 2019 – ‘Christmas with the Cratchits’ – set twenty years later, as Tim faces a decision about independence.
- 2024 led us to a Cratchits reworking – testing ideas and creating new ways for Tim to speak for himself.
Now, after years of devising, experimentation, and debate, we’ve arrived at a Tim who refuses pity, and tells his story on his terms.
Tiny Tim is a rebellious reimagining, the result of years of searching – and finally finding Tim.
Access Information
We weave accessibility throughout the Tiny Tim story, here’s what to expect:
- Makaton-incorporated: Key signs are used to help convey character emotions and story moments.
- Creative captioning: Dialogue, narrator lines, and important sounds are captioned.
- Audio description: Key visual elements, mood, and atmosphere are described by narrators.
For Venue Access, visit Contact Theatre’s website by clicking here.
To discuss access or ask us a question, please get in touch.
