Carols by Cabaret at the Hayes Theatre, Sydney

Carols by Cabaret cast end the show with a sing-a-long medley.

Co-host (and producer) Marika Aubrey sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The Hayes Theatre here in Sydney is a smaller space in musical theatre terms, but one where some super-talented people have been working hard for the past few years to mount shows that might not otherwise get seen here.

But beyond that, they're also part of the community - and so the artists who perform there work together to help in the best way they can, by putting on a show to raise funds for the Wayside Chapel in nearby Potts Point.

And so, Carols by Cabaret was back again this year - and I offered to help the producers in the best way I know how, by photographing the show...

All the staff, musicians, performers and crew volunteered for the night, and it was a pretty astonishing array of performances, from the heartfelt to the hilarious - no wonder the show sells out within hours every year!

Between ticket sales, raffle tickets, and generous audience donations to buy a Christmas meal for someone in need, this was the most successful event yet, raising $9,000 for the Wayside Chapel and their good works for the community.

So well done, team - and happy holidays!