From our arts desk.

Birmingham Hippodrome is  presenting for the very first time a specially adapted and relaxed performance of Britain’s biggest pantomime,Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs today at 1pm.

Designed to welcome into the theatre people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, learning disability or sensory and communication disorder, this relaxed performance aims to give those who otherwise might feel excluded the chance to experience live theatre.   Prior to the show people will be offered a visual story and during the show there will be an audio description and makaton signing.

Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment and Director of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs said “We’re delighted to be working with Birmingham Hippodrome to make this year’s pantomime even more accessible by introducing a relaxed performance. Pantomime is a truly magical experience and an important tradition and we are thrilled to be able to work with the theatre in providing this unique performance.”

Birmingham Hippodrome aims to create a welcoming, less formal atmosphere to help reduce anxiety levels and audience members are able to come and go as they please throughout the show.  Some of the loud and bright elements will be reduced, and strobe lighting and pyrotechnics will be removed.

Liz Leck,  Creative Learning Manager, Birmingham Hippodrome said: “For the last six years Birmingham Hippodrome’s Creative Learning team has worked with hundreds of young people with learning difficulties in 15 schools across the city.  This relaxed performance is a natural progression from that work enhancing their experience of live theatre and making a real difference in their lives.”

To book call 0844 338 5000 – calls cost from 5p per min and a £1 postage fee applies.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs until 2nd February and stars John Partridge, Gok Wan, Stephanie Beacham, Gary Wilmot, Paul Zerdin, Matt Slack and Danielle Hope