PHUKET Stunt Show is putting on a circus and pirate extravaganza for more than 130 kids and staff of the Phuket Sunshine Village children's shelter at 8pm on March 30.

The event will also be open to the public, giving locals and tourists a chance to see one of the final shows of the season before the Phuket Stunt Show stage shuts down in April for a revamp and expansion.

Show Director Craig Anderson says as well as giving a free show for the Phuket Sunshine Village children, they hope to raise awareness about the shelter, which was set up after the 2004 tsunami and now helps take care of kids from troubled homes as well as orphans.

A donation box will be set up for the foundation.

Tickets for the show are 1200 baht for adults and 900 baht for kids 4-12.

Seating for the show begins at 7.30pm. A buffet dinner, normally an additional 500 baht, is offered for free, starting at 6.30pm

Seating is available for up to 850 people.

Craig says the stunt show features 11 expat and five Thai stuntmen performing high-dive, jet-ski, fire twirling and other stunts in the two-part show.

The opening is an interactive circus show that kids in the audience can get involved in.

The second part has more daring and dangerous acts including combat stunt fighting, explosions, and pyrotechnics, all done in a pirate theme.

One performer is Steve Black, a three-time world high-diving champion from Australia, who is sure to thrill and amaze the crowd with platform dives from as high as 27 metres.

Phuket Stunt Show opened in June 2008 with the backing of Swedish investors.

Since opening, the show has been hit with a downturn in expected business, especially from the Asian tour market, which cancelled trips in large numbers due to the airport closures in Phuket and Bangkok last year.

However, the business has still been holding up well, Craig says.

A new investor has recently signed on, giving the show a chance to improve and expand with a planned six-week renovation starting April 1.

The upgraded facility will have an aqua park and new shows, with the idea to attract more local resident families, Craig says.

More information on Phuket Sunshine Village is at www.phuketsunshinevillage.org.

Place: Phuket Stunt Show, 135/11 Moo 4, Patak Road, Rawai

How to get there: On the way to Kata from Chalong circle, there is a turnoff to the small soi at the left just up the first hill (same road as the Muay Thai boxing centre).

Time: 6.30pm buffet dinner; 8pm show starts

Ticket prices: Tickets for the show are 1200 baht for adults and 900 baht for kids 4-12.

Available: For reservations and transportation arrangements call 076 280776 or 076 280593, or visit www.phuketstuntshow.com. Tickets are also available at the door.