Inverness primary cancels Christmas show over 'racist' messages

An Inverenss primary school has cancelled its Christmas show after receiving "racist and abusive messages" online.

Cauldeen Primary School had planned to stage a production of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme featuring a scene about refugee children caught up in the Syrian conflict.

Highland Council said that the school, in Mackay Road, has now changed its plans following "negative feedback" online.

Classes will now take part in other "festive learning" opportunities instead of a Christmas show.

Police said they have received a report of threatening and abusive online communications and are investigating.

It comes amid tensions in the city after the UK Government announced plans to house about 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks.

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.

"Inquiries are ongoing."

Andrew Oxspring from Edgy Productions, which produced the show in 2016, says racist messages towards the school is "deplorable"

He said: "As educationalists ourselves, we were shocked and saddened to hear that the school and staff were targeted with abuse.

"This is particularly worrying as the abuse was in response to a Christmas musical production, the themes of which are tolerance, friendship and peace, which mirror the wider Christian message.

"The musical production in question (Gimme Gimme Gimme) 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 9 years later, then their reaction is misplaced.

"Furthermore, the fact that this reaction has been racist and directed at the school is something we find deplorable.

"With regards to the school being accused of indoctrination, this is equally deplorable.

"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.

"This is what the scene and associated song address in our original publication of 2016.

"We have no comment to make on the current situation with regard to migration, small boat crossings or asylum-seekers.

"We have not, nor will ever, publish material to be performed by children that deals with such divisive and sensitive subjects."