A primary school in Inverness has been forced to cancel its Christmas show after staff were targeted with a wave of racist and abusive messages online.
Cauldeen Primary School had planned to stage a festive musical that included a scene and a song about refugee children caught up in the Syrian conflict.
Show Cancelled Amid Online Abuse
Highland Council confirmed the production has been axed after the school received what it described as negative feedback on social media. This feedback escalated to include racist and abusive messages, some of which were directed at the school and its staff.
A council spokesperson stated: "Following negative feedback on social media, including racist and abusive messages - some of which were directed at the school and staff - the school has made the wellbeing of staff and pupils its main priority."
Instead of the traditional Christmas show, classes will now participate in other festive learning activities within the school.
Police Investigation Launched
Police Scotland has confirmed it is looking into the matter. A force spokesperson said: "Enquiries are ongoing" into a report of threatening and abusive communications made online.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of local tension concerning the UK government's plans to house approximately 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, an army barracks in Inverness. Both protesters and counter-demonstrators have held rallies in the city.
Production Company 'Shocked and Saddened'
The cancelled show was based on Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!, a play created by Edgy Productions. The company produces musicals and assemblies for schools and youth theatres.
The plot, written and published in 2016, follows three of Santa's helpers dealing with modern children's demands. It features a single scene and song about refugees on the Syria-Turkey border.
Andrew Oxspring, director of Edgy Productions, expressed his dismay: "As educationalists ourselves, we were shocked and saddened to hear that the school and staff were targeted with abuse."
He strongly refuted any suggestion that the production was indoctrination, stating: "It is not indoctrination to teach in schools that cold, hungry children caught up in foreign conflicts should be deserving of nothing but sympathy and help."
Mr Oxspring clarified that the scene was written nearly a decade ago and any connection to current UK migration debates is coincidental and misplaced.
