THERE’S a scene in Love Actually where Emma Thompson’s on-screen daughter announces that she’ll be playing “first lobster” in the school nativity play.
It seemed totally bonkers when the festive film was released in 2003 – but according to some parents, it’s not too far from the truth of nativities in 2024.
Parents think that school nativity characters are getting out of hand[/caption]
Emma Thompson’s on-screen daughter was the nativity “first lobster” in Love Actually, 2003[/caption]
That includes author Emma Szewczak, who recently received an email from her daughter’s school saying that she has been cast as a DOOR in the religious play.
It reads: “We have started preparations for our nativity.
“We are really looking forward to seeing it come together and know your child will be excited, too!
“Your child has been cast as a door. This role will be interactive.
“Their costumes can be purchased or created at home using things such as cardboard and string to create a sandwich board style door for them to pop over their head.”
Emma was also advised to bring the costume into the school by November 25.
Shocked by the unconventional casting, she shared a screenshot of the email on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Her caption reads: “Nativity season is upon us! My son has been cast as a wise man. My daughter, on the other hand…”
Emma then called on Bridget Phillipson, the UK’s Secretary of State for Education, to take note of the puzzling email.
She added: “This is what happens when our schools are oversubscribed, Education Secretary.”
Fellow parents were quick to weigh in on the equally-bizarre nativity castings their children have been given.
One mum penned: “My daughter was one of the three kings because at the time she was one of the tallest in her class.
“My son went to a different school and was a cowboy.”
A second said: “Our son was a snowflake.
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“I’m not sure how much snow was falling in Bethlehem at the time.”
A third quipped: “My son got cast as a maggot.
“He came home crying – I guess because the kids were being mean to him.
“I went up to the school and talked the teacher into changing him into something else.
“They did and they also completely took the maggot’s part out of the play.”
Other unconventional characters that people recall their children and siblings being cast as were “the back of a camel” and “a piece of holly in an Advent Wreath”.
