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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS wants to attend drama classes but the trouble is that I really do need BOTH my kidneys!

31 replies

JakeBullet · 22/04/2013 20:08

Shock

Cannot believe the cost per term.

And my son is now dramatically saying that I am preventing him from becoming an actor Grin....trust me...he is already THERE!

I suppose I can just about believe the cost but no way can I justify £80+ per month or afford it.

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 22/04/2013 20:10

Tell him to sell his own kidney Grin

OutragedFromLeeds · 22/04/2013 20:11

Do they not do anything at school? Drama club or something?

OutragedFromLeeds · 22/04/2013 20:12

Sign him up to an extras agency and make him earn the money himself? Grin

SUMMERFRUIT · 22/04/2013 20:13

I get you ! here it's 30 pounds a session :-(

Floralnomad · 22/04/2013 20:13

Get him to join a local theatre group . Most local theatres have junior groups that put on a few productions and they're normally a more reasonable cost .

specialsubject · 22/04/2013 20:14

explain that you cannot afford it, end of.

missorinoco · 22/04/2013 20:14

Lol at the "already there" line!

Suggest he gets a job as a chimney sweep to gain character experience......

tiredemma · 22/04/2013 20:15

£15.00 a week for 2.5hrs here.

GotMyGoat · 22/04/2013 20:15

Where abouts are you?

YouTheCat · 22/04/2013 20:15

With that level of acting, could he become a professional footballer? Grin

Original poster
JakeBullet · 22/04/2013 20:15

Local theatre group sounds better....he wants to be "in a film". He has high functioning autism but still doesn't understand that not everyone can be an actor or in films Grin.

Extras agency, now there's a thought...he could be "in a film" AND get paid a small amount.

OP posts:
HazeltheMcWitch · 22/04/2013 20:16

Is there a similar, cheaper alternative?
Eg local theatre/musicals society?

HazeltheMcWitch · 22/04/2013 20:16

Oh, (many) cross posts!

Original poster
JakeBullet · 22/04/2013 20:18

Yep...told him that theatre schools are out of the question as too expensive. Am going to look at our local theatre groups.

We are in Basildon so we are near lots of places.

OP posts:
Katz · 22/04/2013 20:18

Is there a smaller independent drama club, my DDs go to one and it only costs £45 a term

seeker · 22/04/2013 20:19

My ds goes to a fantastic drama group at the theatre near us. It's £40 a term- 2 hours a week.

Be very careful what group you sign him up to- some of the well known ones are franchises and can.....vary....a lot. Don't commit a lot of money til you have had a good look.

Crikeyblimey · 22/04/2013 20:19

As others have said - look for a local theatre group. Ds joined the local youth theatre 12 months ago. Absolutely loves it. £4 per week (10am till 2pm)!!

They put on all kinds of productions and take part in local arty stuff (outdoor performances at local events) as well as staged productions.

I still have both my kidneys.

OddBoots · 22/04/2013 20:19

Wow, that's a lot. There's a really passionate and well run group around here that does both drama and dance for £5 an hour long class and discounts for multiple classes and siblings.

Januarymadness · 22/04/2013 20:19

sorry post short but sweet off to put dd to bed. Try googling your area and the words "community performing arts project "or variations thereof. Normally cheap and well publicised and you will probably find some actor of note that it has spewed out.

Doinmummy · 22/04/2013 20:22

Try The Young Gen , which is the children's section of Chelmsford Amateur Dramatic Society ( CAODS) they put on some fantastic productions.

Original poster
JakeBullet · 22/04/2013 20:23

Thanks all, yes have had a quick look at some of the Extras agencies out there. Tbh I am not sure DS would cope with this, he is too much of a loose cannon although is getting better. He would need to be calm and accept a lot of waiting around.
Like the idea of googling community acting groups etc, think that will be much more his thing.

OP posts:
seeker · 22/04/2013 20:24

And if he's good, there's always NYT

foreverondiet · 22/04/2013 20:25

Set up extra circular activity in school - we have one and they charge £6 per child per class - and that's nw London...

racingheart · 22/04/2013 20:25

Some of those stage school set ups are such a rip off.

Look around for a local youth theatre - or look up the Little Theatres Guild of GB which has a list of amateur companies - they need kids from time to time - and it's almost free to join.

Being an extra is a good idea as long as he has vast amounts of patience and is able to be still and shut up exactly when asked. I did it as a student and it is long, tedious work.

Alwayscheerful · 22/04/2013 20:26

I presume you are talking Stagecoach? Or similar, why not join your local theatre production instead?

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