Nativity play begin

[t1n333]

As nativity plays begin just wondering how teachers cast. Dd reception is a narrator. Is there any rhyme or reason or just a lucky dip?

So glad you asked this! My dd has been picked for Mary however she's not the most confident child in the class and her speech is pretty poor as well. I'm just wondering why she was picked instead of one of the very confident girls she's friends with?!

Could be a whole host of reasons...

Maybe to help her become more confident?

101 different reasons, depending on how they do the 'production' at the end.

My favourite way of selecting cast was in the first school I taught in, where Mary and Joseph were always given to the least able to speak, least co-ordinated, least able to sing or dance, or couldn't march, etc.,etc. children. They only had to sit in a kind of a 'tableau', whilst others had to follow some dance steps or place some percussion in time, or remember some lines, etc. It was lovely. They were always the type of children you would never expect to get chosen for anything throughout the next 11 years or so of schooling, and it always gave them (and often their families) such a boost

The one thing I can tell you, iis a LOT of thought and deliberation has gone into it at every school I've ever taught at.

The ones we've seen have looked like rationale combined with what the children want to do. Though to some extent the plays have evolved round the children too. At our current school everyone who wants a line will get found a line for example. (No one has much more than 1 as there are so many children to fit in.) The kids who loved doing air guitar when they learned the songs were shepherds because their song had air guitar in, the ones that liked dancing got to dance etc. It's a bit of a cliche but it did seem in reception like the strongest readers were narrators.

Pilko does your DD have many lines as Mary? it could be they think it'll help boost her confidence; or it could be Mary doesn't have that much to say in their version but they think she's keen and cooperative.

In general you can't assume Mary and Joseph are the main parts either. So far we've had one starring the innkeeper's son, one starring the innkeepers (couple), one starring the animals in the stable. I seem to recall a friend's son being 4th chicken and that turning out to be a major role!

One year DS decided halfway through that actually he quite fancied speaking, so he became a talking donkey. Previous year he was a silent donkey. Type casting I say He's past nativity age now. DD was a minor role Mary last year, she's aspiring to be an angel this year as she wants wings.

Halfway through rehearsals that is, he didn't just wing it in the performance!

We look at how many words the child will need to learn and allocate mainly on that basis and try to ensure each child has at least one line.

Oh and with only 5 boys the parts of Joseph, Herrod and the three wise men cast themselves

I hope that's a joke

For some reason the girls weren't clamouring for the role of Herrod ...not sure why

Just doing out nativity at the minute. (Yr4)

Narrator = nice clear confident voice, capable of learning some lines

Mary = really shy but desperate to be in the nativity, and needed a little boost in confidence (mary has no lines)

Joseph = nice sensible boy who will confidently 'lead' Mary. and wont say urgh everytime the word wife is mentioned

Everyone who auditioned got a part. Some speaking, some non-speaking (a few extra sheep and 'townspeople')

Parts were mainly allocated by going through

Who will actually try
Who is capable of remembering lines
Who will turn up to rehearsal
Who will get something out of this
Who is confident enough to do the solo song

Etc etc

And you do not put the 3 best mates as the 3 kings....
we learnt our lesson last year

Why Bob?

Because I was under the impression most roles don't need to be based on gender these days

What are you all saying? Surely you just cast the children of the PTA committee?

DD's female best mate was a lovely king last year. Or possibly queen, I don't think it was actually specified. They all like that cos they get a cloak and crown. Herod isn't anyone's favourite character, but none of DC's various nativities to date have had a Herod, maybe for that reason.

Not true Herrod is always a popular role ...unless you're a girl

23 girls and 5 boys ...not my class however

Mines the opposite boy heavy only 3 girls

"Because I was under the impression most roles don't need to be based on gender these days" no based on choice

We have lots a female shepherds and four female innkeepers

I was Herod once - it was brilliant. It was after two stints of Mary, very refreshing

Soooo, Bob - how many male Marys have you cast so far?

I wonder if anyone ever casts Gabriel as a male....