AIBU to be angry at this?

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Went to see my kid in their drama production of wicked at a drama school they go to on a Saturday. Show day was yesterday’s and despite some children’s brilliant efforts there was a certain set of kids that would laugh throughout , talk , forget dance moves. I’m angry because I know how hard my child tries at drama and feel this may ruin it for others hard work

Nor at ds’s. I find the “aww they’re just having fun” posters on here shocking, actually.

My DD attends a drama group. Ages range from 7 -16, all differing experience and abilities but the thing they do share is passion and commitment to be as professional as they can.

Certainly no buggering around. Think the kids at our group would be as pissed off as the adults if anyone did this

a certain set of kids that would laugh throughout , talk , forget dance moves

These aren’t all the same issue. The first two are unacceptable.

The third happens.

As to whether it ruined the performance? I can’t say, I wasn’t there. I would absolutely be wanting to raise it with the teachers at the drama group.

I think part of me wants to think get over it because I know some kids tried to stop themselves from laughing but others just laughed and spoke like nobody was watching. Do I bring it up item yhe coaches?

“Do I bring it up item yhe coaches?”

Yes. They are 12 and up, not 5.

i think laughing and chatting through a performance is not on, actually. It's not about it being trying to "set the world on fire" and I do understand it's supposed to be for fun- but talking through the performance and messing about is not acceptable behaviour. Especially not if aged 12-16 years. They should know better at that age. It's shows a complete lack of respect for their peers in the show, for their teachers/tutors and also for the audience.

The forgetting lines and dance moves does happen and probably par for the course given the age of the children involved, to some extent at least. But if it is the same who are messing around during the performance itself that does suggest they probably haven't been that bothered about the whole thing and perhaps haven't put much work in. Which is pretty poor behaviour, given it's something they have chosen to do.

And yes, I would bring it up with the coaches/tutors. If these children want to attend the classes for their own enjoyment but not be in the perfomance as it's something they don't enjoy, then that should be allowed. If they want to be in the performance then I think they should be expected to behave properly.

Yeah I’d be pissed off.

I used to dance a lot and even the little tinies, age 3-4, knew not to chat and mess about on stage. Even if they did wave to mum and dad!

Honestly don’t get why people wouldn’t be annoyed?! It shows a complete lack of respect and I’d hope the coaches read them the riot act afterward. Forgetting lines and steps is one thing - messing about on stage is just ridiculous.

Sorry I meant ‘do I bring it up with the coaches’. I think I will bring it up with them but at the end of the day they do pay and when I complained last year about the same reason they told me there was nothing they could do but I know my child enjoys acting here and I also could tell that others were miffed off with the few by their dirty looks they gave out

I don't think it's unreasonable to be angry. At that age they should be able to have respect for others; but not much you can really do wrt forgetting moves - stage fright is terrifying.

I'd look for another drama school. I went to one from age 10 till I was 19. There is no way in hell this would have been accepted there. We worked damn hard and had a great time too. I would have found it utterly demoralising if the other kids had just been pissing about. It taught us responsibility and gave us a good work ethic, we were very proud at the end of show runs.

If she really enjoys drama she needs to be somewhere where the teachers have more control or she won't get as much out of it. If you are in the midlands I can send you details of a very good one.

I’m near the midlands but not close enough distance for my child to attend a weekly class there , thanks though. I totally agree with you

Hmmm. I dare say that the ones who messed around won't be getting big parts any time soon, so that's a bonus for everyone who tried hard and did their best.
It does make me wonder about the professional competence and experience of the staff. A fair few people who 'teach' at amateur drama and musical theatre schools have been through the system themselves and then found it extremely hard to get work in the industry, so they end up falling back on teaching youngsters. Sometimes without actually having done all that much (if any) official teacher training with an examining body.

They found a 12-14 year old that could do justice to Defying Gravity?

If you mean sing the high notes @midnitescribbler they did an ensemble and an octave lower than the actual song as yes, it would’ve been rather hard

Could you clarify what you meant midnitescribbler

So you’d be happy if your kid screwed up the performance for the ones who did want to try? A 12/13/14 year old who laughed and talked through a public performance that others had rehearsed for? That’s a pretty shit attitude, frankly.

What a stupid reply to my post. Why not read what I said? I specifically said it's absolutely fine to just go to drama club for fun and not be overly committed BUT you should put in a minimum level of effort for the performance and not disrupt others by messing around.

Some drama clubs are relaxed, just for fun, don't worry too much about the final result as it's meant to be relaxed. Others are for more serious and committed performers. There's nothing wrong with either type existing.

At that age, YANBU at all. If nothing else its just disrespectful to those who have worked hard and want to put on a good performance.

That is what I meant @EstimationNavigation. It's a big role for someone young.

Obviously it wasn’t full force but it was a version of wicked and they were brilliant apart from a few kids laughing and talking