Nativity play invite

I have been to so many Nativity plays that I am glad of a respite this year as the newish head teacher has decided to take the school to the Panto. this year

is the play to be performed by children from all the classes or is it for the reception class only?

Anniebach . Just the reception and only one performance, so I thought there may have been adequate room for everyone I suppose . Perhaps I am over reacting, but haven't been to a nativity play for quite a few years now so was looking forward to it.

I think you'll find Raemac that's lots of schools do limit it to 2 invites per child . My grandson is in reception and this was the case.

So I don't think this is a personal slight .

We must have been very lucky as we were able to go to a grandparents showing, which was full to the rafters. There were then two performances for parents. (DGS is in reception the children in the nativity were aged from 4 to 7. The old infant school age range I think).

I've always gone to Nativities for my grandchildren but its always been 2 tickets per family each performance with usually 2 or 3 performances its been like that for a long time where we are.

There are only 2 tickets per family at my grandchildren's school even though they do 2 performances. I only get to go if my son-in-law cannot take the time off work. (Not lucky this year)

Our granddaughter is in reception class at a very small school. There is no school hall so the nativity was held in the small village hall. The allocation was 2 afternoon tickets and 2 evening tickets. It's difficult when a spare ticket is given to the other Gran, as happened last year, I said nothing. ?

Ours was held in the village hall too, only the infants perform the nativity. The rest of the school went to watch the dress rehearsal and then there was an afternoon and an evening performance with no restriction on numbers and there was plenty of room for all.

There may be a restriction on numbers for safety reasons (fire precautions).

You haven't missed much. Invariably your grandchild will somehow be hidden behind the biggest boy in the school. It will be unlikely to be anything to do with the Christmas story, but will feature children dressed as presents, elves, Christmas trees and villagers. Mary and Joseph may make a cameo appearances towards the end.

The music will be played via some electronics device, with electronic children singing on them and will feature songs you've never heard before -and provably wouldn't wish to hear again which sound as if they've just been make up by some company that specialises in trotting out these sad little productions year after year, so that teachers can cram the whole ' Infant' school aka Key Stage 1 into the one production, hence the 23 donkeys, 16 Christmas trees and 132 villagers.

In all likelihood you will have provided the costume and will anxiously be checking that other grannies haven't outdone your efforts to make little Sammy look like a passable Christmas pudding.

Of course you won't be able to hear your GC utter their one liner as somebody' s baby will start to wail just at that point, despite the HT having asked that no babies or kamakasi toddiers be in the audience.

At the end the Assistant Head will stand up and congratulate all the little moppets for their wonderful performance and the teachers for all their hard work in putting such a magnificent production together

You will find it difficult to get up to leave having been forced to sit on a tiny wooden chair for the best part of an hour and will not confess to your GC that you couldn't see him/her because some 6' 4" father was using his mobile phone directly in your sight line to video the 8th Christmas tree from the left.

You will report back to your grandchild's parents how amazing little Eddie was and you will probably, by then, have convinced yourself it was true,,

Ours was lovely I must say! Being a small village school every child had a part in a play which was a twist on the Nativity. The singing was lovely, each little group had their own feature spot (DGD and three other little reception girls did a dance) and the child who took the main part was clear, confident and remembered all her lines!
Brilliant.

Raemac I hope you get an invitation next year.

Anya Cynical, toi?

Schools often limit to 2 tickets but if spaces, offer additional tickets. I know how you feel *Raemac". I made the costume for my grandson but was told there were only 2 tickets allowed and when extras were offered no effort was made to get me one. I was very hurt, probably because this is sadly just one of many things I have been excluded from over the years...because my DIL seems to feel that if anyone else is there, it "dilutes" her own experience! My son tries to explain this but doesn't particularly agree with his wife, he is loyal to her which is right and good ...but I wish I could understand better what the problem is . I feel that I am good enough for making costumes, baby sitting and anything that saves my DIL work, but as soon as it is something special that does not involve her in work, I am no longer welcome. I have just about come to terms with this now as a reality but it has been hard.

The Christmas before I retired from teaching, a colleague asked me during my last Nativity play if I would miss "all this."
I could truthfully reply, "Not one bit."
And I have not.
My grandsons are in their first Nativity play today, star parts as 2 of the 3 wise men. Fortunately, I live 250 miles away. Photos and or videos will do me fine. ?

That's sad Granmary and very unkind. Unfortunately, it isn't that unusual either.?

I was dragged (not quite kicking and screaming) to last years "performance " and had the same experience as Anya lol DIL was really glad of my support , and supplies of tissues as we struggled to keep proper faces

I have been up to my eyes with performances this year - from my GCs' schools and the school at which I am governor. I have loved every minute of them all!

Thank you fiorentina51 , I truly wish I could understand better. I remember how much my own children loved it when their grandparents could see things that they did.... it just made the event even more special for them and their relationship with their grandparents. I never saw it as somehow reducing my own experience, more enhancing it for all of us as a family ...everyone is different I know but it js hard. And I admit that my feelings do also link to what I said about being good enough for things involving work but not for anything else ...ofcourse I could say no, but then what would that do except impact negatively on relationships all round, including my grandchild!

One of my nephews, when a tot, was a felt tip pen , not on your list Anya

Our elder daughter when age three was an angel, she stood on a bench with the other teeny Angels, come their cue to get off stage the teenies didn't move, busy looking at the audience, my teeny gave one a shove and they all fell off the bench

At my grandchildrens junior school there is no Nativity play or any other celebrations.They work to the bitter end and have the usual homework this weekend even though they break up on Tuesday.The only concession they had was a 15 minute longer lunch break on the day they had Christmas dinner.

Greenwich That is a shame for the children!

We have two performances and allowed only two tickets per family. Have to pay £1 each ticket. D went to one performance and I went to the other as children have to be dropped off and collected as well. Lovely performances though. Suspect starting to charge is becoming popular.

My GD's school also operates a two tickets only system- many schools operate with halls that were built for fewer children and numbers can be limited by fire regulations ( it's the chairs that cause the problems!) My daughter works full-time so had to take an afternoon off to see the concert, as did my son in law, so I didn't mind missing it, even if my granddaughter was Mary! I got to go to the Carol concert, and the Christingle service. I used to organise the concert and tickets when teaching so I know what a nightmare it can be!

We went on Wednesday. Church school so Traditional nativity. our dgd 7 Was the only sheep surrounded by about 10 shepherds all taller than her and she ended up behind them. Yes there was a huge man in front of me but I was in an aisle seat so was able to move the chair further out. Thank goodness as I wouldn't have seen a thing.

As to tickets there are only 2 so parents take them, but a list for extra tickets means we stand a chance if our name is put on it at 8.50 am sharp next day. So fAr we have been lucky. Tickets free but wonder how long before school sees yet another opportunity for making a few bob.
Saturday it's the dgd 4 at nursery, no problem about tickets to that one. Will also be fairly traditional nAtivity but funnier.