Any Primary Teachers Able to Help...

[SpiritofaPanda]

I'm going to be 100% honest from the start. I'm researching for a book. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and with things that have happened in my life this year, I've decided to just go for it.

I have a character and an idea. As I'm sure you've guessed it's set in a primary school. What I'm after is the realities of this Christmas term, and being in charge of a nativity play. I know somewhat from my own DC being in school but I'm looking from a teachers PoV; how parts are assigned, how the play is chosen, the structure of the school day in the run-up etc.

Just anything that may help me create a more authentic feel. For anyone able to help, thank you in advance.

Firstly, it all starts waaay before it is sensible, so you're probably starting to sing the songs in October or at least early November.

There will be pressure on to make the show really successful, but also pressure to "stick to the timetable" so still teach English and maths every day (depending on the age of the children a bit - more relaxed if they're tiny).

Watch the film Nativity. It’s nothing like that!

Agree with this completely! 😂

It usually starts a lot earlier than you think it does and depending on the size of the school, can encompass lots of different classes.

In my school, it tends to be a very big deal and we write our own nativity each year with a mix of traditional and non traditional songs.
The children are chosen for the parts based on who is a confident speaker, who is able to read the lines and who we are certain will be up to it on the day.

We practise the songs for a while before the rehearsals start in school with cast words going home for homework.
Normal school subjects still take place daily but rehearsals ramp up a lot the week leading up to the nativity so lots of time in the hall practicing.

It starts in November straight after half term with song practice in assembly and in class in spaces such as snack time, just before lunch and end of the day alongside story time.

The teachers usually have a quick meeting to decide on a play they haven’t done for a while or perhaps come across a new one. Usually buy a published one as no time to write own.

Costumes might be provided by school or teachers send little slips to parents asking them to bring them in early Dec in a named carrier bag. If you’re lucky TAs will get the costume boxes from a store cupboard and sort through. Lots of homemade costumes that get pulled out year after year and are safety pinned on and teatowels. The children try them on quickly in the middle of maths and they’re put on a rail in the corner of the classroom. They may also sort the backdrop for the hall.

Confident readers get the narrator parts. Children with supportive parents who will help them learn lines who are confident get the lead roles. Scripts go home with their parts highlighted. Everyone thinks Mary and Joseph are the best parts but they just sit there really. Younger children just sing or maybe do a little dance at some point.

Rehearsals ramp up as the weeks progress and are boring for everyone!

Also you have to leave the hall by 11.30am when rehearsing or the dinner ladies get stressed out and you can’t get into the hall until 1.30pm once all of the peas have been swept up off the floor and the tables have been put away.

It’s cold and flu seasons so they’re always key cast members missing during rehearsals and the teacher usually has to read someone lines on the day or rope in an understudy. Someone always cries when they see their mum and there’s always a crying baby or toddler who doesn’t get taken out!

We chose the play by looking at one that has 40+ parts, and is suitable for 3-6 years (ones 4-7 years often have too many words in the songs for our year 1s to learn all of them). I listen to the songs but usually use Out of the Ark as they have always been good.

We started singing straight after half term.

Last Tuesday I asked my year 1s who wanted to speak in the nativity. Then who wanted to speak lots of lines or just 1 or 2.
I sat with the other y1 teacher for about an hour after school altering the script and sorting out parts. There are speaking parts for about 45 out of 50 children so they are mostly quite short.
Narrators needed to be clear confident readers who can remember when they need to say their line - they have been sent home with a script.
Mary and Joseph don't need to say much if anything but will be on the stage most of the time so need to be sensible.
We needed sheep with personality who could remember the order their lines happen so they don't need to be readers but do need to be quite with it. They will also do a dance if we are feeling up to it!
Children that don't want to talk are travellers or extra angels. Camels and donkeys are selected depending on who will fit the costumes. Certain children are split into different groups if they won't sit sensibly.

We work backwards from the performance date to put in rehearsals with the reception classes that share the hall but it is usually a civilised discussion.

First rehearsal last Wednesday took 55 minutes before we had to stop for lunch and we hadn't even got to the Kings and camels or done any songs. The finished play with songs will be about 25 minutes.

It's stressful especially as you are still supposed to teach a full curriculum at the same time but lovely to see in the end.

one child or another will vomit during rehearsal for sure. One or two children will never listen and pay attention during rehearsal. There’ll be a malfunction with a prop or a costume. One child who is tone deaf will stand at the front and sing really loudly. Someone will wet themselves. The sound system won’t work. Parents will complain about which part has been given to which child. They’ll start queuing around 40 minutes before the doors open. A baby will scream all the way through the performance. A child will cry. It’s joy.

Thank you all so much! This is exactly what I needed.

Usually at least one child cries because they didn't get the part they reeeeally wanted.

And often a parent will email in with the same concern, or that their child doesn't have many lines.

You all forgot the girls who will sit with their legs apart during the show, showing their pants.

But I agree with all the comments above.

Plus you can't give a key role to the child with really poor attendance, cos they'll miss all the rehearsals.

@SpiritofaPanda
I already want to read your book
Would you consider updating the thread if it ever gets published?
Or pm'ing me?

When my DDs were in Preschool class/Yr1... the school had the fun of knowing that Ofsted would happen late November/early December (due to the location, all the schools in the area were done over 2 weeks so there was a bit of advance warning). So the Nativity plays couldn't start until after that. The rehearsals were very intense apparently!)

Yes of course. It may be a bit of a wait. I'm in the initial planning stages, completing my research and fine-tuning but I'll happily update once it's done. It may be a pipe dream I'll actually get it published but I've decided it's time to try and fulfil that dream.

You always need a member of staff to lead the dances and teach the actions and as the "tech expert" I'm always on music duty on the computer which is at the back of the hall so I also dance enthusiastically and mime things like "smile" and "louder".
There will be numerous staff sat slightly off stage whisper shouting prompts.
The performances will have crying parents and babies and at least 1 child who just freezes. Also parents bringing their take out coffees and possibly a six pack.
Allocating roles - as others have said but I always look for someone who gets overlooked for things, isn't academic or sporty and try and give them a big part. Always fun to cast the "wise" men and the donkey.
Song lyrics akways sang wrong (humping up and down on a camel rather than bumping is probably my fave).

I bloody love doing the nativity!