The theatre provides reduced rate tickets, to which a premium can be added for drinks and nibbles at an evening show or afternoon tea for a matinee.

It’s a popular formula for many fund-raising groups in the shire, and the theatre’s staff will help with everything.

For Bay Theatre Players’ forthcoming production of Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced, the Animal Welfare League, Friends of Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens (ERGB), Friends of Maranatha Lodge, Lantern Club, and Operation Christmas Child are all hosting a performance.

Friends of ERBG member Heather Haughton said her group was raising funds to redevelop the Visitors Centre at the Gardens.

“Now that the building is 15 years old, it is no longer coping with the increase in visitors, particularly since the kids’ play space was opened in 2012,” Heather said.

“Friends of ERBG have amassed around $400,000 over the years to kick-start the redevelopment, and are hoping for great community support and government grants to see it carried to fruition.”

The Friends are also supporting a fully accessible, undercover barbecue pavilion at the Gardens, on which work has already started.

Tickets for the Friends’ 2pm matinee of the crime thriller on July 9 are available from lizbarraclough2@gmail.com.

The evening performance on July 14 will be hosted by Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan’s Purse program.

Co-ordinator Liz Fisher said that funds were always needed, not only for the filling of shoe boxes but also for administration.

“The shoe boxes are sent to underprivileged children in Vietnam, Cambodia, Fiji, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu,” Liz said.

“The boxes may be filled with simple things but they can bring joy and hope.”

All inquiries about Operation Christmas Child and to book tickets for the July 14 show ring Liz (Mossy Point group) on 4471 7675 or Pauline Brook (Lilli Pilli group) on 4471 1878.

For more information about fund-raising through Bay Theatre Players, email Sam Lloyd at sam@bargainbox.com.au.