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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU dd's drama group doing a day school on 'Kinky Boots'

39 replies

WorriedaboutKin · 31/05/2019 16:16

For clarity, dd is six years old.

I have just been informed that my daughters drama group (she is six years old) will be having a days workshop on the musical 'kinky boots' next week.

I have myself seen the musical, and quite enjoyed it, but think that some of the content is not appropriate for six year olds.

This is a list of the parts I am specifically concerned about (found partially from google as I'd forgotten the details) :

An intoxicated man yells out to Lola during a performance, "Show us your t*ts." After spotting Lola for the first time and believing him to be a woman, Don boasts that women get turned on by the sight of the working man. When he spots Lola inside, he invites him to come over and sit on his lap. When Charlie shows Lola his prototype thigh-high boot, Lola is upset that it's red, saying that red is the color of sex but also a sign that says do not enter. Charlie then argues that the boots are comfy, with Lola replying that "sex should not be comfy" (with a female factory worker agreeing) and that they're talking about "two and a half feet of tubular sex." When he leaves, Lola says that sex is in the heel. When Charlie doesn't know what that means, his female assistant says that wearing heals requires balance that causes leg muscles to be tense that in turn causes one's buttocks to be taut and "ready for mating."Nicola complains that Charlie is "making porn-ware for hermaphrodites," with Lola then trying to explain she has the wrong term by defining what that means. Lola occasionally carries an S&M type riding crop.

I am surprised that this source material is considered as appropriate for a mixed group that contains many young children. I can understand the themes being appropriate for the older teenagers, but not six year olds.

I don't really want to discuss this with the leader, unless I know for sure I am not being unreasonable, as I would be concerned about it affecting my daughter's teaching.

OP posts:
SimulationTheorist · 31/05/2019 16:19

It's a day workshop for children. Do you really think they'll include inappropriate content?

Original poster
WorriedaboutKin · 31/05/2019 16:22

I can't really think of much of the musical that is appropriate content for a six year old?

Don't get me wrong, it's a fun musical. I wouldn't take anyone under 12 to see it though.

OP posts:
SimulationTheorist · 31/05/2019 16:24

Perhaps they'll just be doing small parts. When DS was in a drama group, they did a Grease workshop and only did a couple of songs with one or two appropriate lines. It was mainly dance.

Processedpea · 31/05/2019 16:27

That's an odd choice. Can't they do annie or similar? Kinky boots is an adults film

Original poster
WorriedaboutKin · 31/05/2019 16:36

Kinky Boots is quite different to Grease.

Grease may have a few adult lines themes, Kinky Boots is essentially about making fetish footwear for transvestites/crossdressers. Yes that is simplifying it a lot, there is also an underlying theme of acceptance and its quite a heartwarming musical. However it is undeniably adult and sexual in a fair bit of its content.

That's why my eyebrows raised quite a bit when I read the email.

OP posts:
Original poster
WorriedaboutKin · 31/05/2019 16:38

Matilda was the last one they did...quite a jump! Grin

Hopefully it's just a minor lapse in judgement on the leaders part and we can carry on as normal afterwards. There are other groups apart from Stagecoach if not.

OP posts:
Catinthetwat · 31/05/2019 17:04

Yanbu. Even the title of the play is inappropriate. How will they explain the name of it?

Herland · 31/05/2019 17:07

YANBU ours did Ru Paul's Drag Race as a theme last year and I didn't let my kids take part. If I wouldn't let them watch it I won't let them perform in it (because then they'll want to see it!).

Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 17:08

I’m guessing it’s a cast member from the current tour who will be doing the workshop teaching a song and dance. My guess will be something like Just Be.

Fantastic opportunity - it will be great fun. Last year ds’s theatre group had a Book of Mormon workshop age range 6-19. They learnt a dance to Two By Two. The younger ones didn’t need to know about the rest of the content.

edwinbear · 31/05/2019 17:10

I'm usually pretty laid back about this sort of stuff, but I'd not be happy with my 7 yr old DD going to that, it's a film for adults, with an adult theme. I don't think DD would even understand it.

Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 17:16

It’s based on the musical, not the film. In America the musical is deemed suitable for young children. The U.K. version is a bit grittier with a bit of British swearing. I think Ds was 12 when we first saw it. A lot younger when he listened to the CD.

MyGirlDaisy · 31/05/2019 17:16

Must admit I clicked on the thread expecting your DD to be a teenager, so I was a bit surprised that this was being considered as suitable for much younger children. I am quite relaxed about most things but think I would be asking a few questions over this choice just to find out exactly what it entails. Maybe they will send an explanatory letter home?

SinjunRivers · 31/05/2019 17:20

Why don't you just ask the leader what will be involved?

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 31/05/2019 17:21

I think you’re being a bit unreasonable. I can’t tell from your OP whether they are actually going to see the musical, but even if they do most of that stuff would go right over their heads.

I would imagine they’ll be focusing on the themes of acceptance of others, being yourself etc etc

WombOfOnesOwn · 31/05/2019 17:22

I literally think even the title is a shitty thing to have kids think about.

Children have access to internet search younger than ever and we're going to give them something with "kinky" in the title? I wonder how someone would explain to a six year old what that word means, if they were to ask (certainly at the same age I'd have asked the meaning of any unfamiliar word that was in the title of a musical I was performing from!).

There's nothing appropriate about this, and given the MANY instances I saw in my drama kid days of teachers being inappropriate with students, I'd be extremely concerned about grooming. I'm sure a lot of adults laughed and said "well, I guess they'd hear that stuff anyway" about the kinds of things being said in our drama classes that was supposedly just hip and edgy, but they were being used by teachers who wanted to assault young pupils, and it was in retrospect really not okay.

Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 17:25

IF it’s Stagecoach then it will be 3 hours split into their usual age groups. For Stage 1 they will do their usual drama games and maybe some improv on themes of acceptance etc, they will learn a song, probably Just Be/Raise You Up (The Most Beautiful thong in the World is a bit too hard for that age group, then they’ll learn a simplified version of the dance to Just Be/Raise You Up (the finale)

Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 17:26

Freudian slip there Beautiful Thing not thong!

Original poster
WorriedaboutKin · 31/05/2019 17:29

I haven't brought it up with the leader as I didn't want to be 'that' parent and have dd singled out.

I just think there are other acceptable musicals to do workshops on for six year olds.

Dd will just be 'sick' that day. If anything I consider inappropriate comes up again we can just find another drama group.

Feel a bit more reasonable now others have agreed it's adult material (or at the very least for teenagers)

OP posts:
Original poster
WorriedaboutKin · 31/05/2019 17:31

It is Stagecoach Comefromaway, and that doesn't sound too bad...I'm still not comfortable with it though. It feels 'off'.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 17:33

I used to work for Stagecoach. I also have friends who are cast members in the current tour of Kinky Boots. The workshops they have access to will depend on what’s currently doing the rounds.

Pinkruler · 31/05/2019 17:41

I think it's too old for 6 year olds - but really you should feel able to bring this up with the leader.

You are paying the fees for this club, they need to be able to take feedback!

LennyBelardo · 31/05/2019 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 17:49

I doubt that Hugh Jackman or Keala Seattle is going to rock up to do a kids workshop.

TeenTimesTwo · 31/05/2019 17:57

Why not drop the principal an email outlining your concerns and asking for reassurance?

My DDs have done summer workshops with Stagecoach for years. DD2 was involved in Les Mis when she was about 7, and last year they did Legally Blonde. They just cut out anything that isn't age appropriate.

(Even secondary school does that for its school musicals).

Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 18:01

It’s very unlikely the principal will have just picked Kinky Boots out of thin air as a theme.

What is much much more likely is that they will have had an offer from one or two cast members or dance Captain from the current tour to go in and run a workshop with their students when the show is playing nearby.

You try and grab those opportunities whenever possible because it’s an opportunity for the kids to work with current, working professionals.

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