Children who work in West End shows

[GunpowderGelatine]

Tonight I saw Matilda in the West End, which was fabulous - but it got me thinking about how things work with children performing in the West End.

There were about 8 children plus the Matilda actress who all sang pitch perfectly, remembered often complex lines word-perfectly (especially Matilda who had so much dialogue), had great comic timing, complex dance moves and some impressive gymnastics skills - one even got swung by her "pigtails" by Miss Trunchbull like in the movie and barely flinched - Their talent was mesmerising and they can't have been more than 10 or 11! I know that several actors play the same character on rotation, there are 4 girls playing Matilda I believe.

Out of morbid curiosity does anyone know how it works with things like school - do they get time off to rehearse? The play finished at 9.30 - aren't they tired or do they just do the odd night?! Do parents stay with them in rehearsals? How do they find these kids - private schools or are they regular kids who just audition? Or are their parents often actors?! What are they paid? Do they often go on to have careers in theatre as adults? Are the adults working with them DBS checked? Are there laws around children working in theatres? How long are their contracts? How do they find the time - I bought a programme and it didn't have huge amounts of info about the kids but the Matilda tonight plays netball too when?!

The educator in me was thinking "this is a safeguarding nightmare" 😂 sorry for all the questions, I was watching agog at these kids and think they must be another species entirely 😂

I teach in a performing arts school. (Thoroughly tedious core subject to many of the kids!) It is really very tedious. I’m always running around finding things kids need to catch up on/emailing tutors in between actually teaching classes.

This is a really interesting thread, thank you so much! What I can't get over is the amount of regulation surrounding child actors compared with child musicians. I'm not aware of anything like this in the music world. Kids can do as many concerts as they want and there's more often than not no DBS checking or chaperoning. I try to limit the number of concerts my DS does so his schoolwork isn't too adversely affected but equally his school authorise time off for prestigious concerts or events no questions asked.

Sorry, don't want to hijack the thread but it's been a real eye opener to how little regulation there is for child musicians compared to child actors. Also got me thinking about elite sports kids. I know some kids at Soccer Academies that barely go to school and get no extra tutoring the way child actors do. It's another world!

I know a "Matilda", she's home educated.

@Boyskeepswinging if they're doing paid concerts then they should be under chaperone arrangements too.
One of mine does a local orchestra and they operate concerts with chaperones and all the regulations for children in entertainment.

I was astounded by the swings in Matilda - kids swinging right out into the audience on huge swings. Wtf?? I was looking for wires and from a H+S pov I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Like you op, I am too engrossed in 'worrying' about the kids to actually enjoy the performance. It's a different world, tightly regulated apparently (I've since learned).

And apparently the swings swung out over the orchestra pit which is netted. All the same, it still doesn't sound that safe to me.

Hi All, 2 of my 3 kids have performed in West End shows, one of them twice, the other 3 times, 2 different shows, not major kids shows like Annie or Matilda.

For our West End shows we had 2 teams who alternated, each time it worked out, after rehearsals, as half a day off a fortnight.

My daughters also perform in panto, one has done 5 years (and is now too tall) and the younger one 2 years. Both girls were 7 for first

My youngest appeared on stage professionally for the first time just after turning 5, but that is unusual for stage shows.

I am a licensed chaperone, but that isn’t my day job, I just help out for their theatre group.

All my kids attend state schools. One head teacher refused to authorise absence, most allow it, and the secondary the oldest 2 attend are very supportive.

My daughters also compete internationally in sport (karate) and it really confuses the theatre parents that our licensing regs are so stiff, but I could take the girls out of school for 6 days without any rules (the schools did authorise it)

That should say half a day off school a fortnight

For stage shows, the school is asked for permission, the local authority licence the children, (easier with school permission), but even without permission it is possible to get licensed.

There inspections held, especially if the borough think there may be use of unlicensed children.

The rules are strict, chaperones hav3 ratios for children, strict rules on separation of boys and girls, safeguarding training

No one has mentioned the pay.

How much are they likely to be paid and does it go directly to them.

No idea about west end pay but dd was in panto last year in a very well regarded theatre in the midlands and her pay was £2 per performance

She adored it but it was bloody hard work logistically as she was in rehearsals from September 4 times a week and then 5 performances a week from November til January. Thankfully she didn't make the cut this year but is determined to do it again next year.

My DC was in Matilda and other west end shows ( now at uni) the children are paid directly into a bank account. This is per show and also an amount for rehearsals. Most shows are in the evening with one Matinee shared between 3 teams so missing school ( local comp) once every three weeks. It's actually the rehearsals the intefear most with school so the children need to make every effort to keep up with schoolwork. Re swing safety they had a lot of training and use very specific positions

I’ve known a few children who have performed - namely Billy Elliott and Lion King. All went to normal comprehensives in London.

A friends daughter has been doing the Les Mis tour last year - she did the city closest to home, had a blast! By like others have said, she looks v young for her age, school were great about letting her out for performances and rehersals. There were chaperones and I think she got paid directly into a bank account from what her mum said - but not great wages lol!
The experience was amazing. She does do theatres school and wants to act professionally. I’m in awe of her as she’s also very talented in sport and is the nicest kid you ever met.
A next door neighbours kid is also into stage, not so successful, done a few amateur productions. She’s a right brat though so I do wonder if that has an effect on casting!

See I knew MN would have answers thanks to all those who replied, it's so fascinated and I'm pleased that regulations are tight around child performers.

My heart was in my stomach at the swings - especially when they swung on their bellies and jumped off the swings, I did a big gasp and DD rolled her eyes at me 🤣

But how much are they paid?

My understanding is Matilda is one of the most responsible shows when it comes to child performers. Certainly when it was in NY, the child performers left by a separate entrance so they weren't asked for autographs (it may have been in their contracts that they weren't allowed to sign them) and the Matildas in the UK have exit sessions with psychologists to process the experience and the applause as an amazing opportunity but now they should go and enjoy life in other ways. Pay is minimal though. Actually, the kids I feel have no protection are they ones who are Instagram fodder for their parents. Now, THERE'S exploitation and no safe-guarding...

If you look at Matilda audition info the general child characters have to be within a certain distance of the m25 and Matilda’s can be from anywhere in the country.

A friends son was in Les mis many years ago now, the pay enabled them to rent a very small flat in London but it meant living in London wiped out all the pay

Article about Matilda’s pay www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242239/amp/British-child-stars-hit-musical-Matilda-paid-just-60-compared-1-095-US-counterparts.html

They are paid approx £80 for Matilda, it’s awful really. They get extra money for rehearsal time etc.
Children in pantos get nothing.

£80 per performance! My tickets cost twice that! But I suppose many do it for the experience? I certainly think all the children looked like they were having the time of their lives on that stage, and were so good I feel it would be a shame for them to not show off their skills.

I'm that panto children get paid £0-£2 per performance - for the last few years I've paid about £80 for a family ticket to watch the (god awful) local pantos, about half the cast are children, usually with a children's TV presenter or ex soap actor in the lead role

But if you look at our local, small town panto. They get 100-150 children auditioning for 2 teams of 6 children. They don't get paid.
I don't think they do it for the pay.

My dc perform, although rarely been paid anything more than expenses, and they love the experience. It should be fun for them. If it's not fun, the time and effort required would not be made up for by pay.

My dd models and acts , modelling pay is more generous.