To be annoyed child got no part in school play

It’s not hard to add an extra line or two.

Passing villager: I’ve heard all the inns are booked up already.
Passing donkey: gerroff, you’re standing on my carrot!
Passing woman: oh that poor girl does look upset. I hope she soon finds a room.

My dd never got chosen to be anything at all other than a random angel or one of many placard-holding bystanders, and was entirely ignored through the years at end-of-term assemblies and the like as well.

By the time she got to the end of year 3 and it happened once again, much to her frustration, I took the deputy head to one side and asked them why. I told her that certain children were always chosen for main parts year after year, and how was that fair, and it was looking like blatant favouritism on the part of the teachers towards kids whose parents were in the PSA or who worked part-time at the school. She obviously looked into it, because the following year there was something of a shake-up.

So sometimes I think you do need to say something, not just on behalf of your own child, but for the other quiet well-behaved ones who are also perpetually overlooked.

If he was very keen and wanted a talking part I’m sure he’d have been given one. Maybe he wasn’t keen on the day.

if he does like that sort of thing maybe see about Saturday drama classes instead?

I might be disappointed but I really don’t think this is something to get annoyed about.

Nailed it. Brilliant response.

There’s definitely favouritism going on in some schools, especially if it’s a faith school.

I was always grateful that mine didn’t get chosen as it would mean more effort with a costume and as I CAN sew, I didn’t want to get lumbered in future years with making and repairing the other costumes, so kept quiet. 😂

I only went to town in his final year when he was in the chorus (again) and required to wear a Christmas jumper. I sewed battery operated sparkly lights onto a rather good Christmas tree that I’d appliquéd onto the jumper with some added embroidery.

It did look impressive and I think the Head realised she’d missed a trick when she saw it. 😂

OMG. Entitled much?

Not every kid gets a speaking part and unfortunately yours didn’t. There aren’t enough speaking parts and some kids had to be left out of them. Why is your kid more special than the others? They may have drawn names out of a hat for all you know. Stop helicopter parenting.

Heaven help you when he tried out for a team and doesn’t make it.

Thats life. Not everyone gets a part.

If your child is keen to have a speaking part there is no harm in saying to the teacher that they are keen and if any of the children are struggling / don’t want a speaking part anymore they your DC would be happy to stand in. And leave it at that.

This made me laugh

I liked how my sons' school handled all this.
It was a KS1 play so reception, Y1 and Y2. Only Y2 got speaking parts and everyone got one, maybe just one line or maybe a bigger role. Children who didn't want to speak helped with making sure R and Y1 were not sitting on each other or falling off the stage where they should be, and 'leading' the singing, or would be a line prompt or help with lights/backstage, or even selling programmes.

I'm still proud that my son stepped in and said Camel 2's lines as well as his own (Camel 1) when C2 was off ill. He's 15 now! 🐪

Of my 4 boys I think only one had a speaking part in the nativity. That would be mr confident no3 son he loved it, no 4 was a v cute shepherd and to this day I’ve no idea what no1 or 2 sons were prob sheep 🐑
it’s usually a lovely wee nativity don’t get too hung up on lines.

My DD was the inn keeper last year who had the most lines. She had a beard. 😂

Anyway it was clear why the children were chosen to do each role. Mary had less lines than my DD but sat there looking sweet and miming correctly. Gabriel was the narrator and was very confident. She had the most lines.

You sound far more bothered than he does. Let it go.

If they did need more speakers they’d sort it out without your help. You will make yourself look silly if you offer your son for this. Tell them he’s upset by all means, but don’t treat them as if they’re stupid and you’re doing them a favour by telling them your child could do it.

Two of his best friends have parts one of whom I know has had some behavior issues this term and been excluded from playtime twice in the last few weeks!

This is completely irrelevant. Children aren’t excluded from their school plays just because they needed a little time away from the playground in year 1 or because they struggle with behaviour sometimes.

I played the back end of Donkey in our production of Shrek. It could have been anyone in there but I still got a mention on the programme.

@Needmorelego our baby Jesus wasn’t great either!

If you want to see your kid up on stage sign him up to a drama club. I don't think school plays are the right time to make insist your kid gets a speaking role.

YABU this would really bother me too because it sounds like he’s been rejected for a part. Everyone knows being in the chorus is nothing to brag about!

@crumblingschools I was a non speaking Mary too (It was Carnival of the Animals). I think I got on ok with my husband Joseph but I know at playtime I was always running around with one of the shepherds.
I was mostly upset because my Baby Jesus wasn't one of the nice soft body dolls from the home corner but one of those hard plastic ugly ones.

I was a reception teacher for many years. We used to start by asking the children who would like a speaking part and then I used to pick the less confident children as I wanted to boost there self confidence 😊.

It really is not a big deal unless you make it one.
He's taking part. As long as you go to see it that's what counts

I'm my dd and ds school the ones who are more confident get the bigger parts. My dd has been given the part of being the tinsel (?) All she has to do is dance around a large cardboard tree whilst wearing tinsel and shes super excited. Ds has the part of backstage help he does not want to be no where near the stage (he would like me to sit backstage and watch him be the helper) . I understand your disappointment maybe ask the teacher if theres a line or two he could say?

I can’t believe people are suggesting that you say something to the teacher. How embarrassing. You’re being far too sensitive.

I was offered Mary, apparently, but turned it down because I thought I would be allowed to wear my aunt's sexy silver nightie as the angel who appears to the shepherds. (I wasn't, and apparently sulked visibly, snarled 'Come and see the Baby Jesus if you want' at the shepherds, and stomped offstage with a face like thunder.) That was my first and last speaking part in primary school.

Please don’t ask the Teacher. I can’t tell you how stressful this time of year is, just go with it..plus take heart that you won’t be the Parent of the child who was great in rehearsals and then ruins the whole thing on the day, there’s no escape from the school hall once the curtain goes up 😂😂 Blimey, we’ve had some pearlers .. bless all of them 🥰