DD got no lines in production

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12 YO DD goes to low key local drama club on Saturdays to enhance self-esteem. We pay for her to attend. We have paid extra for her to be part of the show. We'll then have to pay to go see the show. The club is fairly small.

Am I wrong to feel put out that DD has not been given any lines in the summer production and she's going to spend 4 months doing little while others learn their lines?

I get it when it's a school production and too many kids, but I am upset that we are paying for her to have her hopes of not being in the background crushed once again. Should she suck it up, be gracious and make the most of it?

I am genuinely conflicted.

No; have a word with them. Quite the opposite lesson in self esteem to the one you thought you were paying for.

It depends. Is it the same children every year who get lines, or is it varied?

My oldest went to one where she could cast the parts by knowing the people and was rarely wrong. It wasn't that they were the best, but they would give the same type of parts to the same people. (eg it was always the same girls playing boys, even when they'd said they really didn't want to)
My youngest goes to one where they seem to deliberately mix up each year. Last year he had a really good part, this year he's got a mixture of bit parts that have maximum a couple of lines each, and seems to exit just before each song. According to him anyway! He is a bit bored at times, but knows that last year others were, so is happy to watch.
They're also very good at making them feel included, by asking them to help someone else remember props, or go through lines with another etc.

It also depends on the part. Is she just scenery/background, or is it a part which is actually quite big, but doesn't have lines. I did a show like that once-we had a part who was on nearly every scene, but they mimed everything, so had no lines but quite a big part.
Sometimes I've found that someone who doesn't have a single big part actually ends up on stage far more than most of the others because they're always being called in to make up crowds/be the butler etc.

Have a chat with them. Say she was disappointed, check she's not going to be sitting bored on the side and ask what she needs to do to be considered for a bigger part next time.

So you essentially bribed the club to give her a speaking part in the play? Then they didnt follow through with the agreement?

Theres all sorts of wrong here

Not everyone can have a speaking part, although you may find they have a bigger role as production goes on. Did they audition for it? How long has she been attending this group?

@Letsallscreamatthesistene
Not sure I understand what you mean by bribe!?
There's a fee to attend the club
There's a fee to be part of the production
There's an entrance fee to the production (for family, friends, etc)

You seem to feel more entitled because you are paying. Is that not the same for all, yet she probably won't be alone in having an ensemble part.

Oh I see. I misunderstood and read that you paid for your child to have a part in the play, like in an underhand type way. I see what you mean now. Sorry.

In that case, then id find out what the fee was actually paying for. Was it definitely for a speaking part? Or does it cover everything from having a main role to being dressed up as a tree and being at the back (for example)?

@LIZS I don't think it's so much she feels entitled because she's paying so much as she's wondering what she's paying for.
If she's paying for 4 months of sitting watching the others performing and once a lesson walking from one side of the stage to the other carrying a sign saying "London 1835" then she isn't really getting value for money.

Thanks Witchend that's exactly right. It's also the fact that we were trying to work on her self-esteem and this has backfired massively.

I would be annoyed at that yes.
I think you should say something.
I think they should be fair to all members and give each a chance to have a go

Before you go in do be aware that she might have asked not too say much. I was upset that one of mine never had a speaking part. A bit of questioning 'I wonder why you are a donkey' 'oh we all had to say what we wanted to be, I said I didn't want to say anything and would like to be a donkey'

Has you daughter expressed that she is upset?

As others have mentioned, having no lines doesn’t mean having nothing to do. I teach drama and would try to spread opportunities out as much as possible, unfortunately depending on scripts etc some people won’t have as big parts as others. You also want to give kids something they are comfortable with & just a bit of a challenge.

If she’s sitting around just watching others in rehearsals or it’s been cast obviously unfairly then if course that’s different, but do check if maybe she’s going to be featured in other ways, is she going to have lots of little cameos? Is there singing or dancing that’s maybe more her forte? Maybe the organisers didn’t want to make her feel overwhelmed with a part but have plans to use her in other ways? Maybe there is scope for little parts with lines to be added later eg crowd scenes ?

I’d consider all that before talking to anyone, but also assure your daughter that a production requires everyone & even if she feels insignificant she still has an important role to play as part of the team.