DARWEN'S Christmas pantomime will this year feature special shows for sight and hearing-impaired people.

'The Night Before Christmas' will be presented by Darwen Library Theatre, with George Critchley for PMA Productions. It starts on December 10 and runs up to Christmas Eve but some performances are already sold out.

Extra matinees have been added on December 22 and 23. At the first of these, the cast will present the special 'signed' performance for the hearing-impaired in the audience and the following day will be the audio-described performance for the sight-impaired.

A signer will stand at the side of the stage to sign the actors' lines and songs and those with sight impairments will be provided with an ear piece and will have what is happening on stage described to them.

The pantomime has attracted much attention not only for its story but also because all the cast are musicians and will perform the show's soundtrack. Producer George Critchley said: "In previous years we have had a mini-disc player for the music but this year we have five musicians in the cast who will be acting one minute then will playing instruments when it gets to the songs.

"There has been a lot of interest from people on the back of successful pantomimes in previous years and we have developed a good reputation in Darwen."

The show is based on the 18th century poem by Major Henry Livingston Junior. Some of the cast will help turn on Darwen's Christmas lights tomorrow.

Pantomime tickets are still available for schools or groups, from the box office on 01254 706006, at Darwen Library and Blackburn's King George's Hall at £8 for adults, £5.50 for concessions, £22 for a family ticket, £5 for groups of ten to 49 people and £4.50 for groups of more than 50.

Performances: 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Friday, December 10; 2.30pm and 7.30pm, December 11; 2.30pm, December 12; 10am and 1.30pm, December 14; 10am and 1.30pm, December 15; 1.30pm and 7.30pm, December 16; 1.30pm and 7.30pm, December 17; 2.30pm, December 18; 2.30pm, December 19; 2.30pm and 7.30pm, December 22; 2.30pm and 7.30pm, December 23; 1.30pm, December 24.