OH yes, they can go to the panto …and enjoy it! More than 120 members of York and District Lollipop, which provides social support to deaf and hearing impaired children and young people, are heading to the Grand Opera House next Monday evening to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

And they will be able to follow fully what’s going on because the entire performance will be ‘captioned.’ Lollipop chairwoman Andrea Gitsham said the spoken word would be converted into text, which would be displayed on a caption unit to be viewed by the audience.

“As the captions roll, delivered live from a laptop computer by a trained captioner, audience members can follow what is said, when it is said and by whom,” she said. “Sound effects and off-stage noises are also included.”

Lollipop and the theatre are funding half each of the cost.

Andrea said this would be the first captioned panto in York by the leading provider of captions, 'Stagetext.'

“Sadly I have not had the pleasure of enjoying the Panto since I lost my hearing 12 years ago,” she said.

“I speak for many other deaf and hearing impaired people when I emphasise that the inability to follow the dialect and participate fully with the audience banter can cause much distress and frustration. “I am therefore very much looking forward to my first visit to a stagetext performance. “I can't wait to see the joy and excitement that this performance will bring to many of our young members, who like myself would otherwise find it impossible to join in the fun and laughter.”

She also thanked Betty's Tearooms for contributing to Lollipop's expenses, after nominating the organisation in 2008 for its chosen charity of the year.

Kate Smith, Opera House marketing manager, said: “We are thrilled this is happening.” She said the captioning could be helpful to anyone with hearing impairment, adding: “Tickets still available.”