The magic of panto will be open to everyone who comes to the Beacon Arts Centre this festive season.

Rehearsals are under way for the arts centre's fun-filled version of Jack and the Beanstalk ahead of the curtain going in December.

And the Beacon team says there will be adaptations made and special performances put on so that people with disabilities, hearing impairments and neurodiversity do not miss out on the fun.

The show stars Still Game’s Jane McCarry and Mark Cox along with River City’s Jimmy Chisholm and panto stalwarts Lee Samuel, Shannon Swan and Sam Willison.

Karen Townsend, co-director of the Beacon Arts Centre, said: “Every year our panto raises the bar, and we are enormously proud of our cast, crew, producers and writing team who create something so magical and joyous for our audiences.

“We can’t wait for the curtain to come up on our 2024 show and to see our audiences get swept up in the fun and festivity.

“It is a show for everyone in the community and we are determined that no-one should miss out.

"We have worked hard to break down barriers for those who may need more support or assistance to come to the show.

"Please get in touch if there is anything else you might need to be able to experience the joy of panto."

Audience members will be transported to the magical land of Inverstrone, where the giant Greedyguts plans to destroy the kingdom if Dame Trot doesn’t give him her precious cow.

The 2024 show, which is produced in-house, promises to be a hilarious, fun-filled and action-packed adventure through the fairytale land of Inverstrone, as Jack and friends climb the beanstalk and take on Giant Greedyguts and evil sorceress Voldemorra.

It follows a record-breaking run for the Beacon’s 2023 panto, Beauty and the Beast, which drew rave reviews and was hailed as one of the best in Scotland.

Beacon Arts Centre has a range of resources for people with autism spectrum condition and/or neurodivergence who are visiting the theatre.

These include symbol resources, visual story and/or orientation visits, which are designed to prepare people for a new experience and help them become familiar with the venue before visiting.

Sensory packs will also be available to borrow throughout the run. Each pack will contain slightly different items, but could include weighted blankets, ear defenders, and fidget toys for audience members with neurodiversity.

The theatre can also provide a dedicated chillout area for those who may require one.

There are also spaces for audience members who are wheelchair users with access in both the stalls and the circle areas of the theatre.

Last year, the accessible shows proved extremely popular, and all seats with BSL sightlines for both public and schools performance were fully booked.

As part of the Beacon’s commitment to making its pantomime accessible to all, reasonable adjustments are made to ensure those with personal assistants or companions are able to attend for those customers on the Beacon’s Access Register.

The curtain goes up on Saturday, December 7 and runs over the festive period until Hogmanay.

Tickets for the panto start at £20.50 and are available to book now at www.beaconartscentre.co.uk or by phoning the box office on 01475 723 723.

Two British Sign Language performances will take place, on December 18 at 10am and 7pm.