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Original poster

Sign in here for any Nativity play angst!

79 replies

Iamnotminterested · 30/11/2011 14:24

The same children got the main parts AGAIN?;
Your child 17th donkey for the 3rd year running?
Come and have a rant!

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londoner01 · 01/12/2011 15:37

AHHH
My DD is a star, I'm so happy with this and shes very excited however my DD refuses to practice her lines, when she does she is silly or whispers... Shes not a very confident child and I know its a huge thing to have to say a line in reception.
They have a policy every child says at least one thing, she says it with another girl but the other girl has been ill for over a week now. her teacher asked me after school to keep practicing and encouraging her because in rehersals she can't be heard at all, or just doesn't say it.
I remember the pain at school or being told 'louder louder' constantly at play rehersals and how much the pressure and critism made it ten times harder and more scary.
No idea what to do... Its got to the point just mentioning to her that we should practice her lines leads to her running off or crying.
:( It all just seems too much for her.

DownyEmerald · 01/12/2011 21:41

Oh londoner that's awful. It is supposed to be special and enjoyable for the children isn't it - otherwise what is the point?

Theas18 · 01/12/2011 22:26

Joining you in spirit and remembering times past when mine were small enough for all this - aww!

I'm lucky though as DH teaches yr3 so I get to go and be proud of him lol!

Oh the memories of trying to get white trousers for ds when he was the main part ( Gabriel) as a particularly tall 7yr old.

Things don't change really do they Grin

To all of those with SN kids - the teachers are used to having kids just like yours to work with and they'll get a part they can do - and everyone roll be wowed- and sniffly!

To all the teachers- it is hellishly hard doing all this, I for one DO know the time, energy and angst that goes into it and it is really appreciated !

UnSerpentQuiCourt · 01/12/2011 23:15

All those looking for brown tights, black t-shirts, etc, I just dye stuff. Girls' white tights dye very well (and can be used for boys) as do any cotton t-shirts/pyjamas. Just throw them in the washing machine with dye and salt. If it is only one small thing, throw in a couple of horrid tea towels/towels/pairs of knickers etc to save wasting the dye.

mrsshopalot · 02/12/2011 12:34

quick update on my DS 'angst as only boy angel' - informed me yesterday he is now the official Air Guitar angel Xmas Grin at the end of the party - and he can wear his martial arts white trousers instead of ....tights! Xmas Hmm I have a strong suspicion he has allocated himself this part but now can't wait to see him do his best headbanging as taught by DH!!

Limejelly · 02/12/2011 19:14

At the school where I work we provide all the children with costumes. (mainly because some children would turn up in a beautifully made costume and others in a grotty old t-shirt) so it's fairer all round to provide them!

I for one can't wait!!! I love the Christmas assembly.

To all the parents' of Class One: bring your tissues you're in for a treat! Grin

spiderpig8 · 02/12/2011 19:16

My DD2 is Mary.Before I say i'm a proud mummy, lets wait and see what she does!

strictlovingmum · 02/12/2011 21:00

OP I see where you are coming from, but I just can't be bothered at all.
DD Y1 got a very small/verbal part (two sentences in foreign language) and that is fine by me, I am sure teachers have some weird rotation of assigning the parts that only makes sense to themXmas Grin
There must be more to this life then annual Christmas school playWinkWine

LizzieMo · 02/12/2011 21:55

Mine is a narrator. She is allowed to read her lines, the school have made a nice looking book to read from. She can wear her own clothes. So much better than the angel disaster last year when she cried all through the play. Fingers crossed this time!!!

sarahfreck · 02/12/2011 22:39

Londoner. You could try this. It might work ( but I can't guarantee it).

Play at "doing the christmas play" with dolls and teddies. Line up some as the "audience". Select one teddy to do DD's line and then act as the teacher "coaching" the teddy. At fist you could play both teacher/teddy part (with teddy being terribly quiet and whispering and you demonstrating how it should be said). With luck your DD may join in. Then let her act the teacher and tell teddy (still you) how it should be done etc. "Go with the flow of the game, responding to DD's ideas and actions but hopefully you'll get her to be saying the lines really loud at some point!! Might just help!!

purpleturtletoise · 02/12/2011 22:54

Can I join? It's not actually Nativity-angst (that comes next week, I think), but DD and DS1 were in a school panto tonight. DS1 was one of 2 narrators. I had to pick him up from rehearsals at lunchtime, because he felt sick. I think it was stagefright. Sad

He seemed much brighter when we got back to the school this evening, but he obviously lost his nerve again, and despite the teachers doing their very best to persuade him to give it a go he just wouldn't go on stage.

At the interval one of the teachers had a brainwave and got DS1 to announce the winning raffle numbers. He was fab. And then he felt confident enough to play his part in the second half. (That, combined with me bribing him with a cash incentive Grin). I am very grateful to the lovely teachers who were so patient with him.

DD played her parts without complaint, although her body language did suggest she wished she was elsewhere, or at least not being looked at. And I missed the bit where she was dressed as a dwarf, because I was cajoling DS1 at the time.

Smokedsalmonbagel · 02/12/2011 23:06

Not angst with the actual nativity, will just be really pleased DS1 joins in as he never wanted to at pre school.

But a friend today told me her DS (in same class) is going to be at the front because he sits still so nicely. Not sure if its true or not as her DS was the one who told her. But either way didn't really need to hear that plus I'm sure they will all be moving around the stage.

snowball3 · 03/12/2011 08:57

Her DS is probably at the front so the teachers can keep an eye on him!

Smokedsalmonbagel · 04/12/2011 21:03

snowball3 - Xmas Grin

CustardCake · 05/12/2011 10:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

piellabakewell · 06/12/2011 22:20

'Joseph' was brill. He was there for every rehearsal. He sat beautifully. He knew the words to the songs and bounced around at all the right times even though he doesn't speak much English yet. Monday morning came, dress rehearsal time...no Joseph. Any idea where he is, I asked the school office. Yes, they said, he's gone to Pakistan and will be back in January :(

KTk9 · 06/12/2011 23:03

piellabakewell - LOL!!!!!

My dd's school are doing 'Christmas around the World', along with Hula Dancers, Surfers (which I presume are Australian!) and Spanish Dancers, of which dd is one.

I have to find a black T Shirt by Thursday (AHHHHHH!!!, have you tried getting a black T shirt in the middle of winter? but have no time to dye one), this is to under her Spanish dress, which was cheap on ebay but a little too big!

It would appear that she has to do a dance with one of the boys, who keeps going wrong, finishing up with 'Ole lujah'!! (well I thought that was funny, but 'be serious Mummy'.

Oh and the girl behind her keeps singing too loudly into her ear, so she has said if she does in during the show is going to tell her to 'shush'.

I can't wait until the performance on Thursday.

midnightexpress · 06/12/2011 23:09

Not a nativity, but the school winter concerts. Poor old ds2 is only 4 and apparently got all wobbly-lipped in their first performance this afternoon. He thought I was going to be there, but we aren't going until tomorrow so he thought we hadn't turned up Sad. It never crossed my mind that he hadn't understood. One of my pals was there and kept giving him thumbs up signs, but to no avail. Poor sausage. It's so tough being the smallest, isn't it?

JollyJinglyJoo · 06/12/2011 23:23

Ah yes, Nativity joy! Our school do the same play every year, so this will be my fourth viewing (if I make it- they have decided to put it on at 1.15pm, on a workday, so whether I can do it or not is yet to be seen Sad)

AS they do the same play every year, I am already in possession of the shepherd costume dd2 has to wear (from the year when dd1 was a shepherd: the whole class of that year are shepherds, and the school cheerfully send home a note saying that if we can get the costume from asda, that would be great. So. 30-odd kids, and only around 10 costumes in asda!) Having fought fiercely been lucky enough to get one for dd1, when the school suggested that after the performance we could donate them to the school, I churlishly declined, given that I had another 2 dc still to go through!

DD1 has finally reached the year where they get the speaking parts. Having been adamant for the last 3 years that she will be Mary, she was ever so slightly peeved to be pipped at the post! Especially since her favourite boy in the class will be Joseph....However, she has gracefully accepted her role as an angel (but is still learning the part of Mary secretly, just in case anything should happen to Mary Hmm)

JeanBodel · 06/12/2011 23:51

My PFB came dancing out of school a couple of weeks ago.

'Mummy, my teacher says I'm a star.'
'Oh, you are, my son, you're my little star.'
-Hands me the letter-
'Oh, I see. You're one of 30 stars in the school nativity. And you need a costume...'

SHoHoHodan · 06/12/2011 23:53

No angst here Xmas Grin I am very much looking forward to ds2's nursery school nativity. He will apparently be playing 'Jovis' and his friend will be the 'inkypeeper'. How this ill happen I don't know because the friend is off to forrin climes before the date of the play. There ill be no speaking, just walking around a bit and then sitting down- all according to ds2. There will, however, be songs.

And, to put the icing on the Christmas cake, I didn't have to find any costume stuff as they 'already have every costume' they need. Result!

SHoHoHodan · 06/12/2011 23:54

Hmm. My wwwwwww key is misbehaving.

HoneydragonAteCliffRichard · 06/12/2011 23:58

My Ds has just finally gone to sleep, with the worst case of stage fright Ive ever seen Sad

manicinsomniac · 07/12/2011 00:59

One down one to go for me.

Y4 Daughter was a narrator in Aladdin. Nice spangly costume, enough lines for her to feel like she had a good part but not too many for us to have to spend ages on. All great from her perspective, not so much from mine (I was also directing it - drama teacher)

  • Jasmine sang like an angel but kept rolling her eyes at Aladdin who did not.
  • Parrot kept shedding feathers all over the stage
  • Parents kept trying to film and photograph despite being explicitly told that we did not have the rights
  • The genie's smoke (don't ask - parts for all and all that!) wet herself in a somewhat dramatic, waterfall like fashion part way through Act 2
  • Certain boys in the chorus could not sit still.
  • Radio mics kept fading in and out
  • Scenery backcloth 2 wasn't delivered until the day before the dress rehearsal, nearly giving me heart failure.

But in general a pretty high quality show for 8 year olds.

YR daughter will be a snowflake next Wednesday. One song, with the rest of her class, 3 lines said in unison with 6 others and this show has nothign whatsoever to do with me - I am happy!

DownyEmerald · 07/12/2011 21:02

Ok, for any teachers out there. Please, if most of the children get to go on the stage, could all of them go on please? I got a glimpse of ddSad

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