to be surprised that we are being charged per ticket to go and see our dc's primary school christmas play?

[molyholy]

Is this normal? It is due to 'production costs' apparently. Never happened before. Parents supply the costumes.

I don't see the problem if it's only a couple of quid.

And yes, it's one way to stop the selfish brigade from spreading coats and bags across the two front rows so that Aunty Jean and Cousin Judy and Sue from next door can have a birds eye view while other parents stand at the back.

Manic - it's more along the lines of multiple people learning to read the same piece out of a book or even a big group singing as a chorus of angels. Plus I'm not the only parent who thinks 4 performances including 2 evening plays which go on past bedtimes is a bit much, so yes, the second evening is a bit sparse on numbers. I don't think that I'm the only one who thinks my DC are crap without enough sleep - with mine, even one late night leads to major meltdowns. Some of the parents have grouped together and suggested just having the one evening instead which will sort the parental grumbling in the playground.

we have two tickets per family, no cost, any spare tickets are allocated via an unseemly scrum

I'd welcome the option to buy a brew and a mince pie afterwards though, and there's a captive audience while the children go and change (school costumes so they can't be worn home) - I might suggest this as a fundraiser

SouthWesterly - it's the fact that you aren't the only parent who thinks it that is the problem! If you were the only parent then it sounds like the type of play your children are in would be ok. But if lots of other parents agree with you it becomes a real problem! Just like one ill child = a shame but manageable whereas 10 ill children = probably needing to postpone the show!

Mind you, I'm not used to or enthused by the idea that a child's total contribution to a show would be reading out exactly the same thing as a load of others at exactly the same time!

When I was teaching we would encourage the parents with pre-school children to come along to the dress rehearsal so that the "screaming toddler" situation was avoided.

At my children's school, the Christmas events are all held in the local church and in individual year groups so that every parent can attend if they wish.
For the big end of year production in summer, the PTA auction off front-row seats. Saves arguments from pushy parents and earns the PTA a tidy sum.

irregularegular the plays cost money to buy and licence for performance, the costumes can cost, as can a music licence. It can be costly.

Hiddle genius idea by your PTA!

I wouldn't have thought there were many costs involved in putting on the show to be honest

Licenses, costumes, scenery....it all adds up. Our school charge £2 a ticket, max 2 per family with any unsold available on a first come first served basis once the initial allocations have been given out.

Schools are working on a shoestring budget these days and charging for the school show helps raise some much needed funds for other things.

They charge a small fee in some Belfast schools too. But not all of them.

I wouldn't have thought there were many costs involved in putting on the show to be honest

Shows cost a fortune. These are the budgets for both my smallest and largest shows each year. Smallest ones being informal class plays and largest being UKS2/KS3 musical:

Smallest:
Licensing Fees: £50
Costumes/Props: £150
Scenery/Paint: £75
Programmes/Ticket Printing: £10

Largest:
Licensing Fees: £500
Costumes/Props: £200
Scenery/Staging Hire: £3000
Lighting/Sound Equipment Hire: £2500
Programmes/Ticket Printing: £20

Still not allowed to charge even £2.50 for a ticket and/or 50p for a programme in case parents don't like it!
Musicians Fees: £500

I assumed the school would have a budget for this

Schools barely have the money for books. Many things for the nativity are funded from the teachers own pocket.

My school never charges and has a collection for charity at the end.