School Plays - DD left out again

[Vinegar]

DD is 5 and in yr 1. She has been at her school for almost 3 years. It always seems to be the same children picked to have speaking parts. She is in the choir(as are the majority of children in her class) and so has not been picked to dress up for the nativity play. Some children have been picked from the choir to speak and the rest of the roles have gone to children not in the choir. She would rather not be in the choir if it means they overlook her for other things. She has never had a speaking part or any other special part. Is this just a fact of life that some children never get picked, or should I bring it up with a teacher. Will they think pushy/silly mum? Has anyone ever said anything?

Thank you everyone - sorry can't reply individually as I am typing while holding the baby, but I do appreciate your messages. I think I am a bit stressed and taking this more to heart than I should. I will mention about the choir dressing up though, that's a great idea. I'm sure(hope!)her time will come eventually. She would love the chance to do something(always puts up little shows at home), she is very well behaved and eager to please, so I do hope she does get to do something while in year 1. I will look into enrolling her into dance/drama in a few months.

She is only in her second year at school, think about how relatively few speaking parts she has had a chance to audition for so far, and how many children there are- and I think you can relax.

Mine are in Year 4 and Year 7 and still haven't really had any speaking parts.

Twas ever thus.

I remember clearly a particular family at my primary school (and we're going back a loooooong time here) who always got the plum roles in every single play. They were a right bunch of goody two-shoes.

The last I heard of them was when one of the sons was in serious trouble with the police for GBH or some such.

So, just to say, in the scheme of things it is of little consequence. Though I appreciate that a 5 year old may struggle to understand this argument.

wonder what the criteria are for angels - dd is gutted she is narrator and not a dancing angel

lol, Lockets - dd is v annoyed as bully girl is an angel - mis-casting or what???

must meet up!!!! when???

My dd's school is excellent in giving everyone a part, no matter how small. They all dress up and they either speak, dance or play and instrument.

All of which is great! BUT, there is the same old problem in that the SAME children get the main parts every bleeding time!! I mean every time! Every assembly, every festival, every Christmas play! It really really grates

Why? Why can't they distribute it more fairly? Would love to know a teachers perspective on this ...

Anyone?

That's odd dinny. Two of the girls who always get main parts in our school play are kind of bully-ish. They have a gang which relies on going around humiliated non members.

Can you come teach at our school lockets

I always figured that teachers musn't actually discuss the issue amongst themselves because surely it would be more fair if they did ...?

yeah, Lockets - maybe start dec holidays?

SM - maybe it's because the bullies are uber confident?

What I can tell you is that it is NOTHING to do with whether or not the kid's parent is on the PTA.
Where did this perception come from?

Maybe the teachers hope that by dressing the bullies in white with a halo it might rub off on them.
It is dead unfair, I shall be having a dickie fit if it happens to DD1 again this year. DD3 is an angel, so am quite pleased.

IME children given key non-speaking roles such as Mary/Joseph are often those who struggle academically/needy in some way.....i.e those who need an opportunity to 'shine'. Speakers have to be guaranteed loud (and confident) to carry on over squawking babies etc. Dancers those who can move (!) and musicians who can keep a steady beat. Having said all that, every school I have worked in has given every child a part of some description...no-one simply in the choir.

Bit concerned that KatieDD thinks angels and Mary should be the pretty ones. When we pointed out that some people felt parts were awarded on the basis of the vocality of the parents (although OF COURSE we were sure this wasn't the case), strangely our DD was picked for the next few plays. I'm sure it's purely coincidental.

well i think it all depends on the confidence of the children.my 3 are members of a theatre-group(as are some of their school-friends)and i think the teachers tend to take this into consideration.having said that,my kids do (although ds1 is a bit reluctant!)tend to volunteer themselves which i think the teachers also look at.

No I do not think the angels and mary should be the pretty ones at all, I was merely pointing out that you couldn't even account for it on that basis in our school.
My DD has pure blonde hair, big blue eyes and beautiful face you couldn't meet a more perfect Angel and yet she's a bloody traveller.
I have however bought the most bling'd up silver, taffetta, sequined (strictly come dancing styled) dress you've ever laid eyes on with matching shoes and hair band. If we are going to be a traveller, we shall be it in style.

Mary is not a sought after role at our school. It is a boys' school ...

PMSL, Mumsnut.
DD3 came out of school last week and announced loudly - I'm a dopey shepherd.
Naturally, I replied 'I'm sure it will be lovely being a shepherd darling, not dopey at all' in my best don't be ungrateful, you thankless urchin voice.
Then we got home and I looked at her script. Sure enough, her character is called.... Dopey Shepherd.

Hoe can she have been at school for nearly 3 years when she is only 5?

My DD is the youingest in her class, the best reader, but very quiet so tbh I don't expect her to get a main part at the moment. In some ways it is a relief in case she just couldn't do it on the day.

Oh god I have all this to come - dd is in her first nativity play this year at pre-school.

As one of the 15 oldest she was in for a part - her best friend (the quiestest, shy-est, most likely to cry on stage) got Mary. DD got the donkey.

Thankfully dd seems quite happy and I'm hoping this doesn't change when she's sees the sparkly angel costumes. I am a bit sad for her though although perhaps recognise my pregnancy hormones are all over the place at the moment !

thenewme - she is going to be 6 next month and started at the nursery at 3, that makes it nearly 3 years at the school.