A UK primary school was set to stage their Christmas show featuring a scene about refugee children, but cancelled it due to “racist and abusive” messages. Cauldeen Primary School in Inverness has decided to pull its version of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme – a musical written nine years ago – which included a scene telling the story of refugee children caught up in the Syrian conflict. The show had aimed to tell the tale of Santa’s helpers working at the North Pole, with a section of play focusing on children facing difficulty.
However, Highland Council has now confirmed the festive show has been cancelled due to “negative feedback” with some “abusive” and “racist messages”. Police Scotland also said they are looking into a report they received of threatening and abusive online communications. Instead of the play, children at the school will now take part in “festive learning”.
Highland Council has confirmed the play was cancelled due to ‘negative feedback’ (Image: Getty)
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “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 a Christmas show, classes will enjoy other festive learning activities in school.
“Under devolved school management, decisions like this are an operational matter for the school.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On the morning of Friday, November 21 2025, we received a report of threatening and abusive communications online. Enquiries are ongoing.”
This comes as tensions in the city grow after Labour announced new plans to house hundreds of male asylum seekers at the nearby military Cameron Barracks.
Edge Productions, the creators of the play Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, have responded to the news, saying they were “shocked and saddened” by the abuse the school had received.
A spokesperson said: “The musical production in question was written and published in 2016, and contains a single scene and song about refugees caught up in the Syrian conflict and encamped on the Turkey-Syria border.
“This was international headline news at the time, and the world’s sympathies were with those refugees.
“If some people have mistakenly inferred that this children’s production has any content about the migrant situation, which has sparked debate in the UK some nine years later, then their reaction is misplaced.”
