Always the same children doing nativity....

[Fiddlefaddle2303]

Today I have been to DD last school Christmas play. It was fab, really very good, however, it is always the same kids which get the main parts. ALWAYS!

I had thought that this year, year 6 might be different, children were asked to audition with any child auditioning getting a speaking part if they wanted. It's feels to me that DD was given a role for the sake of giving a role, she said three words was on the stage for all of 3 seconds and we didn't see her again.

I work full time, don't pick DD up from school and don't get too involved in school life, is this the reason? Or is it total coincidental that the lead parts go to the dinner ladies DD, the head of the PTA DS and one of the teaching assistants DD. Every single child who had a 'main' part had a parent who has some input into school....

DD isn't the best singer, but you know she can hold a line, tell a joke, play an instrument and strut some moves and is very funny, but always left at the back or treated as an afterthought! I'm not saying I think she should be lead but it would be nice if just once some of the other kids got a look in!

Please be kind!

I totally get what your saying in our school you can name the children from each class who always get the best part, lines etc

I have been on here before a bout our school and how last year for the year six leavers they even introduced a new award "for one year only" that went to a teachers daughter, it was awful to watch

Oh gosh this topic has well and truly been done!

Yanbu I remember feeling very clearly like this when I was at primary school. The year 6 play was pretty much a showcase for one kid!
What you have to hold on to is done kids really peak st school and the rest of us have a lifetime to do it

Sorry new on here didn't realise it had been done! I was just interested in views!

In our school we write a list of the parts and then ask the class what part they would like, it's always the same children who want to be dancers, the same ones who want a speaking part etc etc. It's not that we choose the same ones, the ones who don't get main parts don't want them.

Ignore the snotty "this has been done" comment, surely every topic had been done before on here

Anyway, YANBU, I could name the children who'd be getting the starring roles in the nativity this year before they were announced, and I was right.

DS is thankfully happy enough being 5th sheep this year .

Same at my dd's school. There is one lad in particular who always has a main role. It's starting to get quite funny really.

Recently there was an assembly about a residential trip the year went on. They gave out some awards at the end. Tidiest room, smelliest room, quickest to get to breakfast etc. All 'group' awards. Then a 'special' award for 'most helpful pupil' went to the aforementioned boy. I kid you not.

My dd is VERY helpful!

Just like the real world of theatre, film and television I'm afraid...
Unless your DD is a slightly overweight egotistical mate of Jonathon Ross she is probably never going to get to host the Golden Globes. And as for the 'one year only'...did you see that they gave Robbie fucking Williams a 'lifetime legend achievement award' recently?

I understand your problem as the school should have chosen a show that gave everyone a chance to shine. The school Christmas show my y3 dd was in was more like a variety show, a pastiche of the xfactor. My dd was Nicole nutcracker scherzinger which was difficult to costume appropriately for an 8yo. But though she had a largeish part, every child got a chance to be on stage as part of an act with the panel of judges making brief comments.

It might feel too late to raise it now, unless your school does an end of year show for the leaving yr 6s. But the school may benefit from your perspective.

My youngest dd is in a drama group, outside the school and tends to get big parts as she is used to speaking / learning lines. But she also has a cliché insecure actor personality, which makes life difficult, tears, anxiety, constantly practising lines and worrying about what people will think of her performance! it is exhausting.

YANBU.

Having seen my DCs school plays this week, once again all the main roles were given to the same children as last year's show, and the year before that, and the year before that.

My DC as well as a handful of other children were just standing in the back doing nothing.

Really, really pisses me off.

Phew, sorry to say this but glad it's not just me!

I feel aggrieved mainly because DD put herself forward, but have to say she didn't seem bothered and enjoyed herself, which is all that counts! Thankfully in the car on the way home my eldest told her younger sister 'DSIS you delivered your audition lines so much better than xxx who got the part'.... This coming from the older sister who barely gives her the time of day at times, was so proud of them both!

There seems to be an 'obvious bias' and whilst I get it that in the real world it happens I really wish it wouldn't happen in primary school...... [takes off rose tinted glasses]

Thank you for your comments....

I would have agreed with you before last year after years of DS getting 1 line or the role of sheep or other animal in countless school performances and class assemblies.

But then the Y6 Leavers play happened, he decided that he was interested in a bigger part. He practised for the audition and got the lead speaking role. He had pages of lines to learn but he learnt them and I was so proud. A couple of the kids who usually got the main part did make comments about how long he was taking to learn his lines but with his teachers encouragement he was word perfect by the performance.

For us the difference was he actually wanted to do it while before he was happy with the non speaking roles.