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Post by TallPaul on Sept 10, 2021 11:35:01 GMT
Seems to me that your daughter is living her best life. Perhaps it's time to de-friend your so-called friend?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 10, 2021 11:55:26 GMT
Seems to me that your daughter is living her best life. Perhaps it's time to de-friend your so-called friend? Agree. I wonder if the so called friend is jealous? |
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Post by lynette on Sept 10, 2021 12:00:19 GMT
Tell you “friend” to mind her own business. Nothing to do with anyone but your daughter and you and the arrangements of the company which have no doubt been organised very carefully. Take no notice. And don't let your daughter be affected by any negativity.
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Post by londonpostie on Sept 10, 2021 12:02:04 GMT
Is she happy?
She obviously has friends in both places. Social media is such an influence, as well - different friendship groups.
How long is this continuing, what's the plan for her after the rooming house?
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Post by Mark on Sept 10, 2021 12:04:35 GMT
Have a conversation with her - is she enjoying it? If yes then that’s great, what an opportunity for her.
I’m sure your daughter will reflect back on her time in Matilda as some of the best times of her life, and if she does fancy a career as a performer it’s a brilliant start!
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Post by jojo on Sept 10, 2021 12:26:06 GMT
I'm not sure that's a question any of us can answer. You know your daughter best and I don't know nearly enough about the arrangements themselves. Many children have presumably done this before, so hopefully they know how to look after children and keen them safe and sane, but it's also fair to say that some parents are overwhelmed, and others are too keen to want things to be great they don't want to complain. Organisations are much more switched on these days to the importance of safe-guarding.
I'm guessing as there will be multiple children all staying there at the same time so there will be opportunities to make friends their own age, which on top of the local children in the cast should help. Being the only child in a production of adults will be a different experience to being in a cast with multiple kids.
As someone already said, it very easily could become one of the best times of her life, which she'll look back on fondly. However, there are things that can make the experience better or worse, and as a parent it's your responsibility to make sure that the things your daughter needs are in place.
Presumably you live outside of London, but how far out? Will it be practical for you to visit her often? Will it be practical for her to come home and hang out with her existing school friends? So long as you have a plan for these sorts of things, I'm sure she'll have a positive experience.
As others have said, talk to your daughter. Make sure she has a realistic understanding of what's involved and ask her. It might be worth talking it over with her teachers too, to see if they have any tips to help her stay in touch with existing friends and to stay on track with how they do their curriculum.
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Post by sph on Sept 10, 2021 13:42:25 GMT
If your daughter really wants to be in the show and is happy with her living arrangements I don't see the problem. Seems like a fantastic opportunity for her and will give her a unique life experience to look back on whether she continues in the profession or not. Tell your friend to stick it  |
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 10, 2021 14:27:59 GMT
It is so cruel that Covid struck, thereby limiting your daughter’s opportunity.
Performing in a lead role in a West End is such an enriching experience, better sets you up than education, which can be caught up on. Lucky we are not like America where a child plays the role full time, so in this country still gets a good chance to get a very reasonable education and socialising and hang out with her peers.
Well if it is your daughter’s dream, then live the dream.
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Post by Jan on Sept 10, 2021 15:01:37 GMT
Can’t see an issue. Just a version of a boarding school but one where the children all want to be there.
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Sept 10, 2021 15:08:19 GMT
Can’t see an issue. Just a version of a boarding school but one where the children all want to be there. Great analogy |
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Post by nick on Sept 10, 2021 15:12:54 GMT
Can’t see an issue. Just a version of a boarding school but one where the children all want to be there. This is what I was going to write. My wife worked at the Royal Ballet School and it seemed to me that the youngsters had a great time. If they didn't then they left - curiously lots of the boys wanted to join the army. This assumes of course that the production company look after the child to the parent's and the child's satisfaction. We home educated our children and a number of busy bodies could not resist claiming that we were ruining them because they couldn't socialise properly. Not realising that home educated children are generally extremely well socialised because they meet regularly with people of different ages instead of being stuck each day with 30 kids the same age and an couple of adults. The OP's daughter is having a unique experience that will give her memories forever plus helping her to stick out from the crowd in (for example) future job applications. Nowt wrong with that if she's happy. |
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Post by bimse on Sept 10, 2021 17:58:01 GMT
Hi Nick, it seems to me your daughter is doing something she must love, she must be good to have been given this role, she’s still getting an education (academic, and being socialised into work discipline , something I’ve noticed in my career that many youngsters just don’t have and don’t want, what a great worker your daughter is and will be), and she’s being cared for professionally . I wish my parents were as encouraging as you are . Your “friend” has no idea , or rather , chooses to have no idea .
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 10, 2021 18:21:35 GMT
This sort of opportunity comes around so rarely in life that it would be cruel to deny her the chance for such an outstanding experience with a hugely professional set up there to support her.
As long as your child is happy there is nothing else that really matters. A true friend would revel in this sort of success.
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Post by jamie2c on Sept 10, 2021 20:47:50 GMT
Why are you asked people here their opinion ? Just reading the spiteful, argumentative opinions on many posts should eliminate this place for parental advice.
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Post by shady23 on Sept 11, 2021 4:28:12 GMT
All that matters is that your daughter is happy.
As others have said you have allowed her to experience such an amazing thing and have this wonderful opportunity. If she is enjoying it and is safe then I cannot see a problem.
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Post by nick on Sept 11, 2021 6:19:47 GMT
Why are you asked people here their opinion ? Just reading the spiteful, argumentative opinions on many posts should eliminate this place for parental advice. Have you read the replies? Totally supportive. Personally I find this forum argumentative at times but there's a streak of respect for fellow posters/ And little spite compared to some forums. |
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Post by joem on Sept 11, 2021 9:46:26 GMT
My 11 year old daughter is currently one of of 4 actors (they rotate in groups so they’re not performing each night) playing Miltilda in the West End in London. The lead child actors who play Miltilda and Bruce are accommodated in a boarding house (the boarding house is ran and owned by the production company) in London as they come from all over the country. The other child actors who don’t play lead roles have to already live in London so that they can attend the school they we’re already attending. My daughter wanted to audition for a West end show and was playing Miltilda in the West end before covid when they we’re all Sent home in March 2020. My friend has now started saying that she thinks it’s cruel that I have let my daughter audition for a West end show and let her live in the production company’s boarding house. Would you let your child do it if they wanted? Do you think I am being cruel? If it's what your daughter wants and what you want, but particularly what she wants, I don't see where the cruelty comes in. It is a great chance to start a career in the most wonderful industry and these don't come round very often. What is cruel is to try and give a parent guilty feelings about a child where there should be none. |
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Post by firefingers on Sept 11, 2021 12:05:15 GMT
Having worked on similar shows I'd say: do pay attention to what your child wants and needs, make sure they are doing what they want and not what you want. I've seen too many unhappy kids who have been shoved on stage by pushy stage parents when the child would much rather be playing football or painting etc. And do remember a chaperone is a Jon, and not a substitute for a parent. Other than that, if your child is happy and you are happy then, why not?
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Sept 11, 2021 12:37:03 GMT
Why are you asked people here their opinion ? Just reading the spiteful, argumentative opinions on many posts should eliminate this place for parental advice. Eh? Nicest forum on the internet TheatreBoard, isn't it? Some truly lovely people on 'ere |
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