IN a world wracked with disasters, famine and war, charity is big business and fear is growing that people are getting fed-up with donating money.

To combat this 'charity fatigue' a new play showing audiences that helping those in need is about more and giving money is being staged by the Riding Lights Roughshod Theatre Company.

The play, Fun of the Fair, follows Mrs Reynolds as she takes a suitcase of cash halfway around the world only to discover she needs to do more than hand out money to help.

Paul Burbridge, the company's artistic director, said the piece was designed to be entertaining but also to change people's preconception's of charity work.

"The purpose is very much to move people on in their thinking around the way we deal with issues of poverty around the world," he said.

"We have taken our cue from World Vision which works by going in, listening to the community and meeting people, putting human faces to those with the problems.

"By the end of the show our audience has learned that there are many more ways to engage with and deal with problems of poverty and have fun doing it.

"Fun of the Fair uses one central story, that of Mrs Reynolds, as a hub for a whole range of different stories.

"These are taken from all over the world.

''Some are true, others are legend and fables from communities in developing countries and still others were dreamed up by the company.

"We hope our play will help make the concept of 'charity fatigue' redundant."

Fun of the Fair comes to Worcester on Wednesday, November 19, in Perrins Hall at the Royal Grammar School on The Tything at 7.45pm.

Tickets are £7.50, concessions £5, from the box office on 0845 9613000.