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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

The joy of Christmas (plays)

62 replies

ParkerTheThief · 14/11/2013 17:57

Ahhh, that happy moment. Casting the Christmas play.

I have obviously allowed the rush of power go to my head

So far I have been accused of

Choosing a play that a pupil didn't want to do on purpose aren't I lucky to be able to read minds.

Allowing a pupil to audition for a part but not giving it to her (epic fail on the understanding of audition)

Saying that if a pupil refused to sing a solo during the audition process that it was fine, but obviously as the part required him to sing a solo he wouldn't be able to do it and would need to take on a different role.

As I'm typing I've just realised the son of a member of the Gov Body has been given a good part! The ultimate teacher sin

Good job I love doing the whole Christmas thing

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 14/11/2013 23:41

DS1's last year with nativity play and he is a narrator, he has never had a part because he is good at reading..
I feel sad that he can't be a sheep or a donkey or something we can take photo's of for when he is older!!

Ilovemyrabbits · 14/11/2013 23:41

My dd is 12. She still bridles at the injustice of the same people being cast over and over and over again during the years of primary school plays. Strangely enough, they're the same people who are doing the school plays in her secondary school too! I have explained to her that it might have something to do with the fact that those people actually go to acting school outside of ordinary school and have worked hard to get to the stage they are at. It hasn't sunk in yet. I think she must enjoy the drama of it, which is kind of ironic :)

beanandspud · 14/11/2013 23:43

Don't worry Simpson I can easily add a pig - it will work quite well and complement the giraffe

Maryz · 14/11/2013 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RegularVoltaire · 14/11/2013 23:48

My dd is a sheep this year! She's made up and so am I! Last year she was a hen ...much trickier!

She was a little disappointed at first because a child in her class that shares her name has been cast as Mary, and for a fleeting moment she thought it was her. We've chatted and agreed that a sheep is much more fun

BrawToken · 14/11/2013 23:53

When my wee one was 3 I was interrogated by another mother about why she got the lead role of Oopsy Daisy Angel in the pre school nativity.

Some parents are bloody nuts and I have a well honed radar now (eldest is 16) so give those ones an extremely wide berth.

I am delighted now she is in Primary she is an angel again! My favourite discussion about the Christmas play was yesterday when my DD who is now 5 said about her wee pal, she got the most special part... the goalkeeper :) I have no idea if the part is goalkeeper or innkeeper but I really hope it is the former! I was and can't wait to give to all the staff for not making it all about Mary!

NynaevesSister · 15/11/2013 04:36

I am a parent who has to have a word in advance with the teacher - to help manage DS's expectations after the disaster that was his year two play when he got it into his head he would be a buffalo. No, I have no idea either. I didn't pay any attention as figured it would go away when casting was announced. I was wrong. When he was cast as a camel, the fact that there weren't any buffalo was beside the point. He came home sobbing his eyes out and he was hysterical for two weeks. It took the combined efforts of myself and the teacher to get him to be ok with being a camel.

Every year it is something else. This year he got it into his head that it would be set in a spaceship.

vikinglights · 15/11/2013 04:46

This is when i love our tiny school, with only six in the class they all get a starring role...... Or three!

We dont do a nativity though

thegreylady · 15/11/2013 09:23

The giraffe's older brother is Joseph having had a thespian career as a cow in nursery, a sheep in Reception and a shepherd in Yr1. Giraffe wannabe says he'd rather be in the Jungle Book! His pic is on my profile with a Woolly spider knitted by a lovely mnetter last year.

noramum · 15/11/2013 13:09

I love our school. They do a Christmas play and each class has a group role. Last year they did "Children of the world", each class did a song and as DD's one represented Australia it was Summer dresses as the costume.

Only the Y2 children (Infant school) will have lines. No idea how the teachers cast the pupils but so far the requirement is a loud voice.

The school has a special needs class and they do the nativity play, no speaking lines required, one teacher reads the story. These 10 children are not able to participate during the normal play but as being part of the school will do their own. The school has the costumes.

Xochiquetzal · 16/11/2013 22:49

I wonder how many parents actually talk to their children before complaining at the teacher.

DD's teacher and TA have clearly made a real effort to consider everyone's talents and personalities and have given parts to fit each child brilliantly, they have some very talented dancers and some children with beautiful singing voices so have given out the parts to reflect that, yet there was still a mum bitching that her daughter's part doesn't have enough lines, even though her DD is delighted that she has a singing part!

Periwinkle007 · 17/11/2013 11:15

I am amazed people complain to the teachers to be honest. I mean my daughter isn't happy with her role but I am very happy, no costume to make, only a short line to learn and only 1 cue, no acting to practice, no singing. ideal to me. She is disappointed but that is the way it is.

all that worries me is her plan to do it particularly badly.... (she has been spoken to very sternly about this by me)

NewNameforNewTerm · 17/11/2013 11:30

We actually ask the children what sort of part they want; no lines, a few lines, lots of lines, dancing? Within reason we give each child what they want (with a little tweaking knowing child X who asked for lots of acting and lines, is really anxious about everything, stage shy and struggles with short and long term memory, as we know it would be putting too much pressure on her, so only a few lines we can easily prompt on or replace if she refuses to go on stage).

It is the parents who have ideas what they want their child to do. When a parent complains I pull out their child's request slip where they've ticked what sort of parts they are interested in and share that with the parent. Some have the grace to accept we have given a role based on what their child wants and what we feel is best for them. Others still argue and go to the head demanding more ...

StayAwayFromDeliriumDive · 17/11/2013 11:42

DS2 is a dog, not just any dog - he is a corgi. Not just any Corgi - he is the queens corgi!

According to DS a dog costume will not do - it absolutely must be Corgi-like!

Just marvellous!

NewNameforNewTerm · 17/11/2013 11:48

Costume idea for SAFDD
Onsie adapted like this this
Add pearl necklace collar and a tiara?

NewNameforNewTerm · 17/11/2013 11:50

ebay

StayAwayFromDeliriumDive · 17/11/2013 12:00

NewName - you are assuming I have the skills to adapt it!! I may know some one who does though.

I love the collar and tiara idea - not sure DS will agree though!

Original poster

ParkerTheThief · 17/11/2013 12:04

NewName, I do that to.

I have been accused of forcing a pupil to write something she didn't want to!
I asked them to choose up to three roles they were interested in. Apparently the one she wrote down, and got was one she didn't want and I forced her to write it

OP posts:

AuditAngel · 17/11/2013 12:08

When doing the nativity in reception, DS asked to be a shepherd. When asked about it, he said, "mummy, it's the only costume we have at home already. That's why I asked. And I asked quickly, to make sure I got to be a shepherd"

Noramum, I think we did the same play last year, DD1 was Polish. We got a request for white shirts (could be uniform ones) and a coloured knee length skirt, white apron plus hair ribbons. DD didn't have a suitable skirt so I asked MIL to cut down an old one of mine to make it, plus make an apron. She asked for more information, then told me to call SIL to ask to borrow the Italian regional peasant costume she had given DN a couple of years before. It was almost perfect. Little white puffed sleeves, red skirt with rick rack, black bodice and attached pinny.

Other than that DS needed dark leggings and a green top to be a Christmas tree, white tshirt and white tights to be an angel (if DS was younger than his sister it would have been fine, I had to buy tights and leggings, but DD grew into them) DD was a star, hopefully DD2 will suggest she is a star to reuse that!

NewNameforNewTerm · 17/11/2013 12:12

I keep having to remind myself why we do it! All that teacher time, money, stress ... (Baa Humbug!)

SAFDD - sorry missed it was D S, maybe medals then?

mrz · 17/11/2013 13:21

Not so beanandspud one year we had a child who desperately wanted to be a sheep so was duly cast and dad came in to complain because their surname was Lamb

NewNameforNewTerm · 17/11/2013 13:31

mrz. If we cast according to surname I can think of a few to make us giggle, but daren't post for fear of outing myself.

SatinSandals · 17/11/2013 13:42

I feel sorry for all the children who are like me and want to be in the chorus, hidden at the back and yet have to contend with parents who want them centre stage!

beanandspud · 17/11/2013 16:12

mrz

Periwinkle007 · 17/11/2013 19:20

Mrz - you could do a name change and post them all there....

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