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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ridiculous demands from theatre group

163 replies

nameyname · 14/05/2015 13:19

Name changed as I think this might me identifiable! DDs are in a theatre group which does a show with adults and kids each year (Oliver type of thing). Middle dd has been doing it for four years, youngest started this year and older dd auditioned every year but not been in it before this year as she has never been offered a main part before.

They are expected to rehearse for two hours every week but older dd has a role that means she is not in a group with the other children but in different scenes so she has to go to extra rehearsals on a different night and attend the main rehearsal where she is often hanging about for ages to do her but as they insist on running it in order rather than letting her do her bits and go home. She doesn't really mind but is really irritated by the fact that the adults who aren't involved with a scene are often invited by the director to comment on what they've just seen but she is never allowed to offer an opinion.

She came back last night from rehearsal really fuming because director told her off for not having learnt all her lines yet and made her feel bad because she couldn't do it off by heart yet, I know they need to learn lines but the show is still a month away so she's got ages to prepare.

The other thing that is really annoying me is that they are expected to provide costumes which are going to cost me a fortune for three kids, this is supposed to be a free activity but in reality it's going to cost me over £100 by the time I've bought costumes and tickets.

So the question is wibu to have a word with the director to point out that this sort of thing is supposed to be fun but her attitude is sucking all the joy out of it for my family, specially dd1?

OP posts:
Scholes34 · 14/05/2015 13:53

£100 for an activity for three children over an extended period of time sounds reasonable. A ballet show for one child comes to much more once you've paid for costume hire, tickets and paying for the classes in the run up to the show.

Miggsie · 14/05/2015 13:55

This is standard for a theatre group.
If it was all kids it would be different, but if you are the one kid with a load of adults you are basically expected to do as you are told.

Your DD could try talking to the adults?
When DD did something similar she and the other kid in the show ended up having a real laugh with other cast members and by the end of show party they were getting on really well and she enjoyed it.
She needs to understand she can't just sit on her phone with her mates and giggle at rubbish, she has to operate to an adult way of working.

VelvetRose · 14/05/2015 13:55

Two hours a week is nothing. My dd was involved in a theatre project last year and she rehearsed every Friday from 5.30 till 8pm and every Sunday from 12 till 6. The end result was spectacular but she was exhausted. Many of the rehersals were a bit stressful and the director was quite shouty as the final performance got closer. Normal I think!

Floggingmolly · 14/05/2015 13:56

Did you tread the boards in your day, op, by any chance? Are you a failed thespian yourself?
Your kids have possibly learned their diva like behaviour from you.
Main role or not; your inexperienced child's opinion on other actor's performances is not required, and you should be telling her this rather than considering going to battle with the director on her behalf Shock

SpinDoctorOfAethelred · 14/05/2015 13:57

Middle DD has been doing this for four years? But these problems are new?

How did it go for the previous years, before your eldest got a part? How long does middle daughter take to learn her lines?

00100001 · 14/05/2015 14:04

How old is your daughter?

balletnotlacrosse · 14/05/2015 14:05

Hello OP? Are you still there?

TedAndLola · 14/05/2015 14:06

This has GOT to be a reverse.

NurseRoscoe · 14/05/2015 14:08

If she was 14 or older for example, and wasn't being offered the change to have an opinion, I wouldn't think it would be unreasonable. Any younger, especially with being inexperienced, I don't think she really should have the right to comment on those who are a lot older and have been doing it a lot longer than her, if she wants to say something nice or ask for advice on her own performance, she can do that off her own back, but as for criticisms, I don't think I would appreciate that from someone younger with less experience than me, especially not a young child, rightly or wrongly!

Saying that, being 14 or older, she should of been capable of learning her lines. If she is a young child, then perhaps it may take a bit more effort but if she's really keen to do it, you as her mum could help her rather than placing the blame on the director?

YABU as if it is really sucking the fun out everything, it's not school, it's not compulsory and you can leave if you want to.

NurseRoscoe · 14/05/2015 14:08

Chance, not change! stupid fat fingers!

balletnotlacrosse · 14/05/2015 14:12

Sorry, but in my opinion a 14 year old with little or no experience, commenting on the performance of others would come across as a right little madam.

NurseRoscoe · 14/05/2015 14:13

However don't assume the OP has flounced off or anything! she could have posted this on her lunch break at work or something, give her a chance Smile

nameyname · 14/05/2015 14:14

Thank you for your opinions, to those of you who say dd sounds diva ish, she's not, she has loads of experience from school plays and has never been expected to wait around like that. She is a really talented actress who is just as entitled to her opinions as others and is probably more experienced than some of the adults, I think the director has just taken a dislike to her and ignores her when she tries to talk to her.

She hasn't done previous shows because she wasn't even given a minor role, just expected to sing in the chorus which shes done before and doesn't like.

OP posts:
SallyMcgally · 14/05/2015 14:16

YABU. Sorry. All these productions cost money. DS1 has a tiny part in a show this summer, and has hours of rehearsals, and it will cost us at least £100 in order to participate and to buy the tickets. That's just the way it goes. Show is in a month and director would by now be livid if they didn't know their lines.

Floggingmolly · 14/05/2015 14:16

How old is she?

00100001 · 14/05/2015 14:16

how old IS your daughter?

Also just because she's done school plays doesn't make her entitled to an opinion.... Hmm

morethanpotatoprints · 14/05/2015 14:17

A month away she should be word perfect. It isn't about her its about the company and the show.
How can they rehearse that bit if she doesn't know her lines.
Some parents spend thousands on costumes for shows, I managed about 1k in 6.5 years. Grin

nameyname · 14/05/2015 14:17

She's 13. Younger DDS are 8 and 12. Middle dd who has done it before isn't interested in having a main part and had never had more than a couple of lines.

OP posts:
00100001 · 14/05/2015 14:18

although she has school-play experience, she has no experience in theatre plays... and hans't exactly shown herself to be the greatest member of the cast... so why would the director seek her opinion???

AuntyMag10 · 14/05/2015 14:18

Really talented actressGrin

Floggingmolly · 14/05/2015 14:18

13... Hmm

morethanpotatoprints · 14/05/2015 14:19

I remember you posting a similar thread last year, it was exactly the same.

MythicalKings · 14/05/2015 14:20

School plays are a different world. She isn't entitled to comment on the performances of adults until she has had a lot more experience.

If the director dislikes her it's probably because she has an attitude like the one you're displaying.

I suspect this is the last role she'll be offered.

00100001 · 14/05/2015 14:20

she's 13??

She's in a her first theatre play, she hasn't learnt her lines and wants her opinion listened to, and you think she isn't a diva?

balletnotlacrosse · 14/05/2015 14:20

Regardless of how talented she is or how many school plays she's done, that still doesn't entitle her to comment on the performances of those much older than her. That is what the director is there for. If she chooses to ask certain adults for their views, that's up to her. She is not obliged to allow your daughter to air her opinions on all and sundry. Apart from anything else, adults have usually learnt how to comment with a bit of tact, children and teenagers not so much.

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