An Inverness primary school has cancelled its Christmas show after being targeted with “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.
Highland Council said the show has now been axed after the school received “negative feedback on social media”, which included “racist and abusive messages”.
Police Scotland said it is investigating a report of threatening and abusive communications online.
A force spokesperson added: “Enquiries are ongoing.”
The production was based on Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! – a play created by Edgy Productions, which produces musicals, songs and assemblies for schools and youth theatres.
The plot – written and published in 2016 – tells the story of three of Santa’s helpers struggling to keep up with the demands of modern children amid a new high-tech set-up at the North Pole.
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The story features a single scene and song about refugees caught up in the Syrian conflict and encamped on the Syria-Turkey border.
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.”
The local authority said under devolved school management, decisions like this are an “operational matter” for the primary school.
Andrew Oxspring, director of Edgy Productions, 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.”
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The incident comes amid a row over the UK government’s plans to house about 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, an army barracks in the city.
Protesters against the proposals and counter-demonstrators in support of the move have taken to the streets to voice their views.
Mr Oxspring said: “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.
“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.”
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Mr Oxspring said his firm had “no comment” to make on the current situation in regards to migration, small boat crossings or asylum seekers.
He added: “We have not, nor will ever, publish material to be performed by children that deals with such divisive and sensitive subjects.”
