17 year old performer, not allowed to do what in the theater shocked 😮

[Willowk321]

So basically, my DS is 17. It is legal for him to have a job without parental concent, it is legal for him to drive (if he has passed his test which tbh he hasn’t 😜), he can legally move out- again without parental concent, and he can legally concent to his own medication.

He is also currently in a amateur production for a local company which he is really enjoying. However, I have been informed that I must accompany him to the stage door and sign to say I have dropped him off and Vice a versa at the end of the rehearsal.

I told my son I thought that this was ridiculous and refused to do it, however his director telephoned me the other night to told me thet it was a legal requirement and that any person under 18 is not allowed to vouch for themselves “Same way they don’t have any other responsibilities”. I then mentioned the above and they basically just said “yeah, well that’s different”. I mean WTF.

Anyway the thing that has annoyed me is what they said is complete 💩:

As soon I came off the phone, I went straight to Google to look up the law, as I would be amazed if you had to be picked up at an age where your considered mature enough to live on your own and even be married (yes, I do know that you need parental consent for that. Well, unless you run off to Scotland which; let’s be honest; is what most probably do 😉). Anyway I researched the law and click on the official document on gov uk and what a surprise... the age is 16. 😡🙄

I then checked my local authority to see if it was the same and it appeared to be. So I decided to ring up the Council and told them about the situation, and they told me:

“Although, the law is 16, it is not uncommon for theater groups/dance schools to raise the age (mostly to 18). 16 is the minimum age but theatre groups could raise the age to 30 if they wanted to and if you theater group wants you to pick up your 17 year old, then it’s their choice and life would be much easier if you just complied with it.”

So there you have it. It is clear that 17 year olds are legal to leave on their own, but my theater group just doesn’t want them to. I have discussed this with DS and although we both agree it is completely ridiculous; I have decided to comply as he desperately wants to do the show.

I suppose my question to all you lovely people is: should a 17 year old be allowed to leave a theater on there own? What age can members leave unaccompanied at your dance school/theater group?

I understand that some people feel that all people under 18s are children, but there is no denying that 0-17 is a broad age range, for example 17 year olds will naturally have more rights and responsibility’s then a 3 year old will.

I would like to say though, if you feel that 17 year olds should be escorted as they are still “children”, would you feel the same about a 17 year old McDonald worker being escorted. I personally cannot tell the difference, but... just a thought 🤔

Anyway I will leave it with you 😂

Why should they be forced to baby a 17 year old, just because children's clubs don't understand that the law doesn't require it

Exactly. I've said it in other contexts, but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

If we want to have any player on the ice who under the age of 18 we have to have two qualified (and DBS checked) coaches present, access to a Child Protection Officer AND have a Child Protection policy signed off by the UK governing body

I am a club welfare officer in athletics. We have a policy. Not signed off by anyone but the club - but then England Athletics would never have the resources to check every single club in the country - as ice hockey is a much smaller sport maybe the governing body can actually

The welfare officer does not have to be present. It's not feasible. Look at football clubs - many fixtures every weekend - you couldn't possibly be at every match. It's impossible - you just need to be available to concerned kids (and vulnerable adults).

The two coaches is ideal but again, not a requirement especially if parents are around.

I would agree with the OP that I would be annoyed if this was my DS. At 17 I would expect him to find his own way back from college, social activities and any job that he has/had. I also wouldn't expect there to be any considerations in place in respect of any job that were in addition to what was lawful or in line with standard expected conduct.

I would be quite annoyed to have to collect him when he has been arranging his own transport (where appropriate) for the last couple of years - as us normal for a teen growing up.

I'm quite surprised to see all the comments suggesting OP doesn't want her DS 'safe guarded'. Yet there are other threads on Mumsnet when an 18 year old is considered an adult requiring no parental support and if you are giving your 18 year old a lift of helping them out financially you've gone wrong in not bringing up a responsible adult. Responsibility only comes at 18 if DC have been allowed/given this gradually over previous years.

You need to explain the law to them. I have taken specialist legal advice on this in the past, and these kinds of measures are not required.

You sound like the sort of entitled, uppity PITA parent that every drama / dance school utterly dreads. You're doing a great job of being "that parent" - the one your DC probably dreads having as well!

Surely it’s not unreasonable for drama schools not to apply rules to 17 year olds that aren’t even applied to 4 year old school children.

I would be quite annoyed to have to collect him when he has been arranging his own transport (where appropriate) for the last couple of years - as us normal for a teen growing up.

Not just collect but sign in and out!

That's so stupid, what if he could drive and had a car? Would an adult have to pick him up then?
I agree with the op that is a stupid rule. Children walk home from school at age 12 or 13!

The law is far tougher towards schools than towards clubs.

Hi all, thanks for responding and giveing me your feedback.

Just to let everyone know, the theater group has now informed me that as long as I write and sign a permission slip, they will let my son make his onw way to the car. They have also informed me that they will reconsider lowering the age for the next production, so I doubt I’m the only person who has complained ...

But I would like to point one thing out anyway:

People who are saying that the age increased when the “school leavening age” increased:
The school leaveing age NEVER increased! You leave school at 16. The education participation age is what raised to 18. There is different legal statuses between school students and college students.

Ps. Sorry if this came across as a hit someone Rant 😂

Good news OP. All parents should be standing up against this kind of nonsense.

Willow - I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall trying to re-iterate the leaving age point.

Glad they have seen sense anyway.