AIBU To think a 5 hour rehearsal before a 2 hour performance is too much!!!

[Fillyfolly]

My youngest goes to a preforming arts class on the weekend.
The rehearsals each week, leading up to the play, have been tough on the younger ones as they have had a lot of sitting around to do. But my little one, who is 6,has attended all the same.
On the day of the show all the cast were expected to attend 5 hours before the show to rehearse for show which was for 4.30pm. Alot of the younger ones looked really tired on stage. I later asked my child if they had a chance for some fresh air during the day and she said no. The person who runs this school actually wanted to put on two shows that day. One at 2.30 and then one at 6.00. The only reason they pulled out is because of poor ticket sales, but no thought for how exhausted the children would be! I'm having second thoughts in returning my child there, and looking around for alternatives. Am I unreasonable or is this the norm?!!

My 8 year old did a run at the theatre in May. She was there for long periods for the tech and dress rehearsals. There were lots of extra rehearsals in the few weeks running up to it. On performance days she was there an hour and a half before the show (matinee and evening show each day and she alternated).

She was tired, but it was an amazing experience for her and she can’t wait to do it again.

If your child didn’t enjoy it, withdraw them. Otherwise it’s a bit the nature of the beast.

Forgot to add we got back home at nearly 8pm. My daughter was shattered as she had a school trip the previous day. She was out cold on the Sunday and still burnt out on the Monday..

There are restrictions on rehearsal and performance schedules. Was it in a theatre, with licensed chaperones? They should have had a minimum break between rehearsal and performance and leave the venue for that time.

We experienced this. My child really disliked the repetitive lessons leading up to the performance. The whole summer focus on the performance ruined their enjoyment of the lessons and we quit soon after.

Lizs, yes it was it was in a theatre. How could children of that age though, be expected to put on two show in one day with only two hours break, from 11.am until the show finished at 8.30pm. It seems too much to me.

My children have all performed in professional theatre productions. In her first show, DD2 was less than 2 months past her 5th birthday. She would do 2 shows in a day, finishing around 10 and then have 3/4 of an hour drive home (which she would sleep).

Then she would be at school next day.

She started panto at 7, as did her elder sister. Call time of 12 pm for a 1pm, then back for a 7pm show. Leave theatre by 10, school next day. Usually 2 or 3 times per week, for a 6 week run.

Doesn’t sound excessive to me

Lizs, the 8 hour day was too much for the kids in my opinion with only lunch and light snacks to keep them going, it was a musical performance! I feel it was money down the drain.

My ds is in a performance for the first time on Sunday. He can only rehearse for 1 hour before a 45 minute break (we have to take him out of the theatre!) to return for a 1.5 hour performance. Its not a play, but a showcase so each childs piece is less than 15 minutes long. He's 15!

The children don’t necessarily have to leave the theatre between shows, they have to have a break

The show was a sharing for the parents, it was a working theatre that was hired.

The weekend performing arts 'schools' often get round the child performance regulations by stating it is a 'school performance' and not an amateur performance. I am a licensed chaperone and won't cover the performing arts schools in my area due to their flagrant disregard for performance regulations.

We've been asked to, I think as proof, because we've been asked to sign them in, out and in again.

Here's a paste of part of the email we got op about this...

after to-ing and fro-ing with council re child performance requirements, they have to have a break of 45 mins after an hour rehearsal or performance....or 1.5 hrs if over an hour which would affect our performance times.....*

It's fairly normal I'd say. Both my dds love it tbh. They enjoy the hanging around with their friends backstage.

If your dc can’t cope with it maybe she’s too young for it at the moment? There’s a problem that if you want things to be “professional” looking they need to put in the hours, but it doesn’t suit all children. I don’t think what you’ve described is excessive and my 6yo would be tired but not floored by it - but she is used to it.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/321845/ANNEXXA199June.pdf

This is the statutory info but agree "performing arts groups" may try to circumvent the regulations.

Don Pablo well, we were more or less told to drop your child off at 11.00 prompt with a packed lunch and collect them after you watched the show apx 6.30pm (which was cut to one show after poor ticket sales). No break, as far as my daughter told me. It was also a warm July day.

Do they have licensed chaperones present? I’ve worked in theatre with young people, including as a chaperone, for many years and whilst long rehearsal days like this are very much the norm, there are strict regulations about breaks that should be adhered to. Chaperones should be present to oversee this and they can also intervene on behalf of any of the children at any time if they feel any child isn’t coping. Have you raised your concerns? I think it’s normal to expect that, especially little ones, will be knackered and that there are long stretches of boredom on tech days (a lot of chaperones bring activities for the kids to do while they’re not actively needed on stage), so to a certain extent that is to be expected if your little one is involved in theatre, but if you feel it’s beyond what she can cope with then have a word with the organisers and see what they say.

If she enjoys it let her carry on, but it doesn't sound enjoyable to be.

Ugh. Appalling grammar and syntax above. Apologies. I’m knackered myself!

pasbeaucoupdegendarme I think you're right, my daughter is too young for an 8 hour day with only a sandwich and a drink in her stomach singing and dancing along on adrenaline, yep far too young.