The empty wallet

SIMON TIERNEYmakes a song and dance about living well with less cash

Theatre

A few years ago I played Anton Chekhov in a play about his life. Months were spent learning about the great writer: his many loves, the struggle with his family and of course his chronic tuberculosis, which often led to haemorrhages. I spent hours figuring out how to perform a haemorrhage. I had to fall to the floor of a busy restaurant, pull out my handkerchief and yell “haemorrhage!” Alas, on opening night I got muddled and, as I dropped to my knees, I cried “haemorrhoids!” instead. I could see the audience examining my undercarriage to see if the special effects extended to such an event.

Classics and classes

The Hawk’s Well Theatre (Temple Street, Sligo, tel: 071-916 1518) is offering six free tickets (normally €24) to its upcoming show, The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien. Based on her 1960 novel which shocked the nation, this is a classic coming of age story. Email marketing@hawkswell.com to avail.

Blackpool Library (Red Forge Road, Blackpool, Cork, tel: 021-4924937) runs free drama classes for teenagers on Saturdays, from 11.45am-12.45pm. Call to book.

Griswold is a new darkly comic play by Arnold Thomas Fanning about two Irish emigrants living in New York. The Civic Theatre (Tallaght, Dublin 24, tel: 01-4627477) is offering four free pairs of tickets (normally €16-€20) for June 13th to the first people to email info@civictheatre.ie.

Jig: the Story of Irish Dance (Powerscourt Townhouse Theatre, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2, tel: 01-6111060) is a new multimedia Irish dancing show. There are 10 free family tickets (worth €45) for the first people to email catherine@jig.ie.

Of puppets and the Bard

Lambert Puppet Theatre (Clifton Lane, Monkstown, Co Dublin, tel: 01-2800974) is offering four free family tickets (worth €44) to its production of The Three Little Pigs. One ticket is available per show. Email info@lambertpuppettheatre.com (with “Ticket Offer” in the subject line), stating your preferred date (June 9th, 16th, 23rd or 30th).

The Dublin Shakespeare Festival ( dublinshakespeare.com, tel: 01-8962242) is running from June 6th-16th. There are eight free pairs of tickets (normally €15-€22) up for grabs for the flagship show, Footsbarn Travelling Theatre's The Indian Tempest. Email paul@dublinshakespeare.com, with the subject line "Indian Tempest Offer", to claim the places.

Cork Arts Theatre (Camden Court, Carroll’s Quay, Cork, tel: 021-450 5624) is offering five free pairs of tickets (normally €10-€15) to its upcoming production of the romantic comedy, The Owl and the Pussycat by Bill Manhoff. Email info@corkartstheatre.com to avail.

Solstice Arts Centre (Railway Street, Navan, Co Meath, tel: 046-9092300, solsticeartscentre.com) is offering six free tickets (normally €16) for The Love-Hungry Farmer by John B Keane, starring Des Keogh, on June 8th. Email emma@solsticeartscentre.ie. Other upcoming productions include Orfeo, performed by Opera Theatre Company and CheeryWild Production's comedy, Love All.

Last but not least . . .

To celebrate National Music Day on June 21st and as part of love: live music 2012, The Mill Theatre (Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16, tel: 01-2969340) will be hosting an open day of live music, 11am-7pm. See @milltheatre on Twitter for the line-up. Admission free. Visit lovelivemusic.iefor details of events around the country.