Is this normal for a School Nativity play?

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

Had a letter home today from the School to say the Receptions' Nativity will be on X day, maximum of 2 tickets per child, £2 per ticket?

I have to pay to see my DS1 in his Nativity? [shocked]

Not only that, but no cameras, phone cameras or camcorders are allowed to be used. If we want a picture of him as a King they will take the photo and I have to pay £1 for it!

Now, before I'm flamed, I'm going to pay. It is only £5 for the lot and it's for School Funds, which I understand. But couldn't they have just asked for a contribution on the day?

Is it normal practice? AIBU? I know I sound like a skinflint - I'm not

The dc's school doesn't charge for the nativity but does have a maximum of two tickets per child. They had to impose this after the severely overcrowded hall two years' ago. However, due to increased class sizes the past couple of years, they are now having to have two shows, one morning, one afternoon.

Filming during the performance is also banned, the hall is just too full, but the dress rehearsal is filmed and DVDs of it are for sale. They also do a photo call at the end.

No limit on tickets. Two performances so one set of GPs go to each one and we go to one each. They don't charge but the older children create progammes with the cast members listed. You "buy" these for whatever donation you like for charity.

We don't pay. Max 2 tickets per child. Cameras allowed I think. Charity collection boxes aplenty.

The no photo rule will probably be because one or two parents have asked for no photos of their child to be taken.
The teacher asks us every year if we are worried about photos, as dd is adopted, we have always said no photos to be in the paper or on- line, but I have never said no photos at all. Although the head always says to the parents that the photos must not be posted onto facebook etc.

Donations usually. But maybe, in your case, you are guaranteed a mince pie.

You think this is bad - our xmas show tickets are SEVEN pounds each. Including babies and toddlers!

And not mince pies.... not even a program - they are extra

Free at the primary ones here, but leaving collection.
However when I was at primary 30 years ago they always charged £2 per ticket, so you've got a good deal.

Bah Humbug. Zombie!

No not normal anx grasping

We pay here as the funds go to the school and to recover the cost for the license for the performance, new scripts (if it is a new nativity the school has never done before) and costume/staging costs. It might only be a very basic performance but it does add up.

The no photography is due to child safety issues and the possibility that a child who has not recieved permission to be filmed/photographed will be, with pictures shared online. It is easier to impose a blanket ban and there is no dvd.

I hate the sense of entitlement that schools have forcing parents to pay to see their own child in a school play.

They've probably already forked out for costumes, bought raffle tickets, spent a small fortune on crap at the school Christmas fair, given up time to fund raise etc.

I absolutely think a collection at the end is ok, then people can contribute something IF THEY CHOOSE. I dislike choice being taken away from people. It's so prescriptive - charge X no. of parents X amount to achieve X in funds.

I also get the rage when restaurants automatically put service charge of 12.5% on bills though.

Fantastic that you had notice,when dd was small we'd get about a weeks notice and have to sort out costumes!

I think no cameras is a great idea. Some people don't even watch the play, they just sit with their I pad up filming it! And then No one behind them fan see (they are always in the front).