An East Lancashire drama society is hosting a relaxed version of its annual pantomime – to make the show more accessible for people who would not normally be able to enjoy the theatre.

St Cuthbert's Amateur Dramatic Society (SCADS) is hosting an informal version of Hansel and Gretel on Sunday November 10 at St Cuthbert's Primary School in Darwen.

The society will perform the version to make the show more accessible for people who may find the theatre daunting, such as children or those on the autistic spectrum.

Amber Gibson, Vice Chair of SCADS said: “We wanted to be more inclusive and allow people to come and watch shows that they couldn’t normally.

“It means that people with younger kids who are worried about going to shows but want to get them into shows can come and not have to worry about the kids getting up and running around - because they’re allowed to.”

The relaxed performance is designed to create a more welcoming environment for those who may make involuntary sounds, or who would appreciate the more easy-going environment.

Slight alterations are made to the performance; however, the content of the show will not change.

Loud noises or explosions are reduced or removed, audience members will be free to go in and out of the show as needed, and making noise or moving during the performance will not be discouraged.

This will be SCADS’ 24th annual pantomime and their second year offering a relaxed performance.

Gibson said: “It went really well [last year]. We all came out to the front and introduced ourselves so then people who may get scared by the naughty witch knew that it wasn’t actually them.

“We introduced ourselves as our actual name and then our character, so I think that really helped.

“We had a small amount of people who came to the relaxed performance last year, but we’ve already passed what we had for bookings last year for the relaxed show.”

This year’s pantomime will raise money for Nightsafe – a homeless charity that works with young people in Blackburn with Darwen.

The drama society, which consists entirely of volunteers, will be performing Hansel and Gretel from Tuesday November 12 to Saturday November 16, with the relaxed performance happening on Sunday November 10.

Tickets cost £7 for an adult, £5 for a child, and £20 for a family, and are available on the group’s website: www.darwenscads.org/buy-tickets.