This night will be bad. Tomorrow will be beyond all imagining. December 20, the day before Will’s 11th birthday, and all he wants is snow. But something is not right. On his way to Dawson’s Farm, a hunched old man scuttles into trees, the animals are disturbed. And then Will receives a present. It is a Sign. Listen on headphones for 3D immersive sound. #TheDarkIsRising

Will Stanton: Noah Alexander John Smith/Paul Stanton/Mr Beaumont: Thomas Arnold Bus Conductor/Jamaican Old One/James Stanton: Danny Bailey Stephen Stanton: Simon Bubb Mrs Stanton/Mrs Pettigrew/Dr Armstrong: Amanda Hadingue The Walker/Hawkin: Toby Jones Narrator: Simon McBurney The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson: Tim McMullan Merriman: Paul Rhys Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton: Natasha Stone The Lady/Miss Greythorne: Harriet Walter Herne: Miles Yekinni The chorister: Vinay Singh Radio announcer: Samuel West Soundscape design: Gareth Fry Music: Josh Sneesby Original songs by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Héloïse Tunstall-Behrens Adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney Dramaturg: James Yeatman Director: Simon McBurney Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for BBC World Service Commissioned by Simon Pitts