Finding love amidst the manic backdrop of Dublin City can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, but this Valentine’s Day, the Temple Bar Cultural Trust is teaming up with dozens of local businesses around the city to help you fall in love with Dublin…and just maybe find love yourself.

On February 14 from noon to midnight, spots around the city will open their doors to romance for the aptly named event, A Date with Dublin. The programme of events will include everything from photography exhibits to speed dating and choral music performances.

If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a partner, the two of you can participate in a truly unique art exhibition curated by the Gallery of Photography. Vintage-style partners’ portraits  will be taken from 1-4pm and then displayed on a screen in Meeting House Square later in the evening. Places are limited, so contact info@galleryofphotography.ie to reserve your free spot.

There are also a number of film and theatre screenings going on throughout the evening that couples or friends might want to partake in together. Films to be shown in Meeting House Square the evening of, for example, include Casablanca and Once.

While many of the events are open to all for a celebration of love in all its forms, some are aimed at people looking for romance. Our friends over at the Gutter Bookshop are hosting an event just for awkward culture vultures looking for love: bookworm speed dating! Get to know other literary-minded singles in a fast five minutes each and maybe come away with the new Mr. or Mrs. You (or if not, a great story and perhaps some new friends!). It’s on from 6:30-8pm for free and there’s no need to book in advance.

ETA: The Gutter folks have just informed me that this speed dating event is actually a book match event, so you won’t be meeting people – you’ll be meeting their experts who will match you up with your perfect book!

If you’re currently out of couplehood or looking to give Valentine’s the aul’ two fingers, one option is the truly unique “Love Sucks” at Project Arts Centre. A king of live-action art game created by the artists from Make and Do, two different games will have you meeting new people through smartphone ice breaker activities and silly antics of faux seduction.

For more info and a full programme of events, visit the Temple Bar Cultural Trust’s website.

Over the past two decades, the Chinese community in Ireland has grown from a small group of IBCs (Irish-born Chinese) to a huge and diverse community of people, both of Chinese heritage and Chinese migrants. Many Chinese people arrived during the Celtic Tiger period in search of education and business opportunities, and have remained in Ireland, making their own unique mark on Irish society and culture.

Photo: William Murphy

Nowhere is this unique mix more celebrated and vibrant than during the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival. Held each January/February over the Chinese New Year period, the Dublin CNY Festival is now in its fifth year and will ring in the arrival of the Year of the Dragon in 2012 from January 20-February 3 with a packed schedule of events that includes a Chinese market, traditional dragon dances, craft fairs, lectures and seminars, Chinese opera performances, a film festival and even a table tennis competition.

Also known as “Spring Festival”, Chinese New Year celebrates the lunar new year and is the main annual Chinese holiday (something like Christmas in the West). Typically celebrated with family and friends over the course of a month, Chinese New Year is a colourful celebration filled with exotic dances, unique foods and time-honoured traditions.

Among the main events at the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival this year, the free Asia Market Chinese New Year Carnival is the place to be if you’re new to the event or just want to get a feel for what it’s all about. Taking place Sunday January 22 (Chinese New Year’s Eve) in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, the carnival will include a traditional dragon dance, martial arts performances and workshops, karaoke, costumes and a welcoming speech by the Lord Mayor of Dublin. There will also be plenty of stalls where you can pick up a few traditional Chinese crafts, like chopsticks and fans, as well as sampling some delicious Chinese fare.

Other events of note include the Film Festival, which will be held this weekend (20th-23rd Jan) at various cinemas across Dublin (click here for listings).

For more information on the Dublin Chinese New Year, including listings, be sure to visit the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival website.

Additionally, if you’re looking to sample some authentic Chinese food in Dublin, there are a number of excellent options along Parnell Street and Capel Street, both of which have begun to form an unofficial Dublin Chinatown. Particularly excellent is Charming Noodles (105 Parnell St.; +353 (0)1 872 9340 ; web review), which does (surprise!) fresh, tasty and authentic noodle dishes, from soups to fried noodles.

Finally, we’ll leave you with this lovely little taster video:

Ireland is a country known for its beer, but microbrews and ales fall far down on most Irish drinkers’ lists. There are, however, some great craft brews to be found in Ireland, if you know where to look. One such place is the Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork City.

Rebel Red and Shandon Stout. Photo: IrishJaunt

The brewpub has an interesting story. Seated out at the east end of Cork along the North Mall, the building originally housed a 13th century Franciscan monastery whose well was purported to have healing waters (hence the brewery’s name). In the 1940s, the building was used to bottle Guinness locally in Cork, and in 1998, it was taken over by the Franciscan Well’s owner, Liam McNeill.

Franciscan Well brews five core beers onsite at the brewpub:

Friarweisse - a 4.7% German-style wheat beer with clove and banana aromas
Blarney Blonde – a 4.2% “Kolsch” lager with a light, fruity flavour
Rebel Red - a 4.3% Irish red ale with lovely malt overtones
Rebel Lager – a 4.2% Czech-style hoppy lager
Shandon Stout – a 4.3% Cork-style dry, chocolatey stout

Though you can find Franciscan Well’s beers at various pubs around Ireland (for example, at The Gingerman in Dublin), the best way to experience their brews is at the actual brewpub in Cork. Inside, you are greeted by three 30-gallon copper tanks behind the cherry wood bar, while the pub spreads to the back with lovingly worn wooden tables and booths, meeting up with one of the largest heated beer gardens in Cork, where the namesake well still trickles.

Franciscan Well's cosy brewpub. Photo: IrishJaunt

On Thursday evenings, the Franciscan Well serves up pizzas from a wood-fire oven (although, sadly, no menu is available at other times), and they offer free WiFi throughout the pub and a more-than-decent overhead music selection (important in a brewpub) that, on the evening we were there, ranged from Tom Waits to Arcade Fire.

This sweet little brewpub is located at 14 North Mall, tucked away in a small stone passage off of Cork’s River Lee. And as the saying goes, nothing’s far in Cark.

Franciscan Well Brewery
14 North Mall
Cork City
+353 (0)21 4393 434
franciscanwellbrewery.com

Another year, another set of resolutions, another travel wish list. I know the drill. I do it myself every year. But 2012 is going to be different. This year, you are going to make time to travel, even if it’s just in your own back garden.

Today being January 12 and all, we thought we’d bring you our picks for the top 12 destinations in Ireland in 2012. We came up with this list based on monthly goings-on around the country, as well as beautiful places you might not have heard of before and other unique corners of Ireland for a getaway. There are also a few musts on the list, so if you haven’t had a chance to see those yet, be sure to set aside some time and a few quid.

January – Dublin

Photo: Elizabeth Barnett

You could really visit Dublin at any time of year, but we’ve chosen January for a couple of reasons. First of all, the Temple Bar Tradfest, which has become one of the most prestigious and accessible traditional music festivals in Ireland, is on from the 25-29 of the month. Likewise, visiting in January means escaping all the tourist rabble and enjoying some of the city’s finest pubs in peace.

February – Aran Islands

Photo: Mark Heard

I know what you’re thinking. The Aran Islands… in February?? Well, if you are as crazy as we are or just want to get as far away from Valentine’s Day as you can, these scenic islands off the coast of Galway offer a great escape. More importantly, though, we chose February because Tedfest 6 will be on from the 23-26 of the month, and what better way to truly escape reality than listening to a bunch of faux priests sing Johnny Cash songs on a fictional island?

March – Co. Clare

Photo: IrishJaunt

If you’re hopeful about spring, Co. Clare is the place to be in March. Even Ireland’s most jaded recession mongers can’t help feel in awe of the beauty at the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren coast. Plus, if you’re up for a little trad music, the Corofin Traditional Festival is held over the first week in March and offers a chance to get up close and personal with some of the country’s best trad players.

April – Belfast

Photo: Damien du Toit

Belfast is constantly making Irish lists of great getaways, and as the northern city gains ground as a destination, so it gains popularity. Which means, if you want to see it before it becomes overrun, now’s the time. One better, this April marks 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic, and so to commemorate that event with undeniable irony, Belfast is hosting a slew of Titanic-related events, including the Titanic Belfast Festival, which will include light shows, musical performances and events, as well as the opening of Titanic Belfast, an exhibition experience about the doomed ship, which was of course, built in Belfast.

May – Killary Harbour

Photo: IrishJaunt

If you’ve never experienced the incredible view of Killary Harbour (Ireland’s only fjord!) from atop the Western Way path, you’ve missed one of Ireland’s most spectacular panoramas. May is the perfect time to head this way, as the weather usually lightens up around Leaving Cert time, and the May Bank Holiday weekend sees the opening of the Connemara Mussel Festival right here on the Renvyle Peninsula. Sleepzone Connemara makes for a cheap and cheerful place to stay with perfect views of the harbour, and while you’re here, be sure to pay a visit to Kylemore Abbey, one of the prettiest structures in Ireland.

June – Slieve League

Photo: Flickr user globalreachent

Although the weather in Donegal is never particularly predictable, June offers the best chance of sunny skies over Slieve League – arguably Ireland’s most dramatic sea cliffs. Be sure to pop in to the Sliabh League Cultural Centre for lunch and a peek at the art and archaeology of the area.

July – Coastal Wexford

Photo: Flickr user mozzercork

The Sunny Southeast is at its brightest in July, a perfect time to hit the sands of Curracloe Strand, one of Ireland’s longest and prettiest sand beaches (and, incidentally, the filming location for the D-Day scenes in Saving Private Ryan). From the 5-8 July, the Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival offers something for everyone (even non-seafood eaters) with a lineup of angling competitions, musical performances, kids’ events, coastal walks and, of course, seafood tastings.

August – Carlow

Photo: Keith Dowling

County Carlow doesn’t make too many top destination lists, but exploring the 16 different scenic spots along the Carlow Garden Trail as it winds its way through the lush county makes for a perfect August activity. Aim for the first weekend in August to partake in the annual Carlow Garden Festival, which features nature galore through guided walks, demonstrations, gardening lectures, craft fairs and more.

September – Giant’s Causeway

Photo: Flickr user TS Drown

The strange stone columns that make up one of the most unique and popular attractions on the island of Ireland – Giant’s Causeway in Co. Antrim – have long been without an official visitor centre, but that is all set to change this September with the opening of an £18.5 million state-of-the-art visitor centre that a UNESCO World Heritage Site of this calibre deserves.

October – West Cork

Photo: IrishJaunt

While West Cork is abuzz all summer with visitors, October offers a different perspective on this upmarket holiday haven, providing not only the best chance to see some actual autumn colour, but also a bit of charitable exercise during the Irish Heart Foundation Walking Weekend (6-7 Oct), which sets off from Baltimore, and a yummy reward at the Kinsale Gourmet Festival (12-14 Oct). While you’re in the area, don’t miss the scenic village of Glandore.

November – Enniskillen

Photo: Courtesy Image

When the winter blues are about to set in, it’s time to set off for Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh, where the Belle Isle Cookery School offers a range of winter cooking classes in November. Courses range from one-day sessions on how to throw a great dinner party to two-day “Game and Winter Wonders” classes, in which you’ll learn how to cook all types of wild fowl and meat. To really splash out, book a room in the 17th century Belle Isle Castle.

December – Galway City

Photo: Courtesy Image

Galway’s great at anytime of year, but the City of Tribes will particularly draw you in during the holidays with all of that Christmasy cheer. The annual Galway Continental Christmas Market, held in Eyre Square, puts a sweet, hippie bent on Christmas with artisanal foods and crafts made by Galwegians alongside more typical Christmas market fare, such as German-style sausages and lagers.

Getting around Ireland sans a car is not the simplest of things. Yes, there are a number of options, but there are not plenty of cheap and quick options. Let’s say, for example, you want to go from Dublin to Cork – a very heavily trafficked route, to be sure, and one that many people – both locals and visitors alike – are bound to undertake at some point.

By Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), the journey is a little less than 3 hours. Sounds good until you realise that a return ticket costs a whopping €47 (and only goes up from there)! Bus Éireann, by contrast, charges only €20.90 for a return journey between Dublin and Cork, but takes a full four and a half hours to get there.

Enter Aircoach.

Photo: Darren Hall

Despite it’s rather specific name, Aircoach offers services well beyond the airport (although they have those too for a decent enough price). For our hypothetical Dublin-Cork journey, Aircoach charges a mere €22 return and does the journey in 3 hours 45 minutes.

Now, I have my reservations about bus journeys, mainly because I find them cramped and bumpy and all other manner of ill comforts. So, I was a bit hesitant about booking Aircoach from Dublin to Cork over Christmas. But, in these trying times, we of course wanted to save a few quid, so this seemed like our best option.

The trip down from Dublin to Cork was, admittedly, a bit of a trial. The coach was smaller than I expected and had no toilet, which left us with coffee bladders for the first half of the ride. Luckily, there is a “comfort break” on this journey, with a stop at a large petrol station in Urlingford (exactly 2 hours from Dublin) where toilets, cheap coffees and breakfast rolls abound. There are also two very friendly donkeys that stick their heads over the wall near the smoking area looking for treats.

The trip back from Cork to Dublin was considerably better. It was a different coach model with much bigger seats, foot rests and, yes! a toilet! This return coach also boasted leather seats and more leg room and was generally a lot more comfortable (comfort break was the same on the way back).

One thing I have to laud Aircoach for is the existence of free wifi on board. What a huge leap! I’m not sure why other transport services find it so difficult to get this service going, but this was a wonderful service that allowed us to read the news, email and keep in touch with the family we were heading to see. (Connection was a bit spotty on the return route, for some reason).

So, the question is, would I recommend Aircoach? Yes and no. If you are looking for a semi-comfortable, slightly quicker and much cheaper way of getting from Dublin to Cork, this is a great option (CityLink, meanwhile, provides similar services to/from Galway and Limerick). If money is not such a problem but comfort is, take the train. Bus Éireann? I can’t honestly see a reason to use it unless you’re going to a small town or village that is otherwise unserved by public transport.

Anyone that’s ever spent any time in the sweet little City of Tribes will tell you that it’s not getting to Galway that’s the problem, it’s getting out of Galway that is. If you know Galway well, the following words may be wasted on you (if you aren’t currently wasted already, forgive the pun), but if you’re new to the city, read on.

Standing stoutly on Ireland’s west coast looking bravely out into the rather unfriendly Atlantic Ocean, Galway is surprisingly soft. From the gentle curvature of its stone alleyways to the worn wood in its best pubs, Galway is a place where proverbs seem to become reality (time stands still, dreams are born, nothing is as it seems) and everyone is actually friendly.

Sure, Galway’s known for its hippies and artists and they are part of what makes the city so disgustingly charming, but it is also a sophisticate’s place, with a whole slew of European cafes and shops dotting its main streets and making it a very easy town in which to forget your woes in comfort.

If it’s your first time to Galway, here are a few of my favourite places around the city for eating, drinking, sleeping and seeing.

Seeing

Galway is really more about relaxing and finding yourself than it is about heavy sightseeing, but there are a number of historic sights around the place, such as the Spanish Arch, an extension of the old city walls built in the 1580s; Galway Cathedral, which, with its massive stone interior and sparkling stained glass, is among the youngest of Europe’s cathedrals; Eyre Square (pronounced “air”), the city’s main square and park; and the Salthill Promenade, an open length of footpath stretching north from the city centre that offers a great place to take in the sea air (or be blown down by it!).

What you really want to do, though, is use Galway as a base for exploring the surrounding countryside. To the north, Connemara is a desolate space of purple mountains and Irish speakers that has inspired some of the country’s iconic literature. To the south, the lunar karst landscape of The Burren and the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, all of which should be on any first-time visitor’s itinerary.

If you’re comfortable, consider hiring a car to set your own pace and spend some time (or even take an overnight somewhere like Clifden). Here’s a handy guide to driving in Ireland and you can follow our scenic driving loop through Connemara.

Alternately, a number of tour companies offer day trips by coach to these destinations, including the Galway Tour Company and Fáilte Tours. Be aware, though, that you might be run a bit ragged by the end and probably won’t get as much time to soak in the beauty of these places as you would if travelling on your own.

Eating

If you only eat one thing in Galway, make it McDonagh’s. Half take-away chipper and half nicer sit-down restaurant, McDonagh’s caters to all with its perfectly perfect fish ‘n’ chips – arguably the best you’ll have in Ireland. You’ll choose your fish from among cod, plaice, whiting and salmon (almost all freshly caught by local fishermen) and then an array of sides, including the hand-cut chips (I doubt I need to sell you much beyond the above photo).

For something slightly more upmarket, Martine’s Wine Bar has a thoughtful menu of European style dishes that range from pastas and steaks to fresh fish.

Drinking

There are a lot of great places to drink in Galway (’tis a university city, after all), but I am going to tell you about the traditional pubs because those are the ones I personally love and can recommend. Pictured above, Galway’s famous blue pub is Tigh Neachtains and you can’t miss it on any stroll down Quay Street. Inside you’ll find well poured pints of Guinness and lots of wooden nooks and crannies.

Music lovers should make for the Crane Bar, which requires a short walk west across the River Corrib to Sea Road. Downstairs they host regular traditional Irish music sessions, while true unplugged treasures (from professional trad to folk, blues and country) abound on the small stage upstairs. Tig Coili – that bright red pub you passed while you were shopping – does excellent trad sessions (don’t be surprised to hear some of Co. Galway’s most famous and infamous players here), or for a plain ole pint of good Guinness, there’s nowhere better than the simplicity of Freeney’s on High Street.

Sleeping

For a city of its size, Galway has a surprising number of accommodations including many budget options. I often opt to book into the Sleepzone Galway City, a hostel-meets-hotel where rooms are cheap, clean and fairly central. If you want to be right in the action, you should check out Barnacles Galway, a party-hardy hostel located right on pedestrianised Quay Street, or for something a little more comfy, the newly renovated Forster Court Hotel offers a gracefully upmarket option just behind Eyre Square.

Getting there & away

Coming from Dublin or Cork, there are a number of private coaches, such as the CityLink, which tend to offer the best value and comfort for your money and include services like toilets and free WiFi on board. Trains are a much comfier option but prices can be much higher and transfers between Cork and Galway, for example, require a change.

If flying into Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland, you can also catch the CityLink or, alternately, Ireland’s slow-but-somewhat-sure national bus service, Bus Éireann.

It’s nearly Christmas and we here at IrishJaunt simply can’t wait. While you may be out murdering yourself over Christmas shopping, which we all know is Irish code for “pints”, we hope you’ll take time to consider the true meaning of Christmas: family, love and friendship.

To that end, we’re bringing you a photo blog today that captures the special beauty of Ireland at Christmas.

Nollaig Shona Dhuit! Merry Christmas!

One of Ireland’s most beloved churches is taking its Christmas underground for the second year in a row. Christ Church Cathedral Dublin is hosting its second-annual Christmas market in a very unique location: the cathedral’s 12th century crypt.

Courtesy photo.

Spawning off the success of last year’s market, which saw numerous visitors opting for the Christ Church market as a warm and cosy alternative to the many outdoor markets around Dublin, this year the cathedral hopes that proceeds from the market will be enough to help save its belfry, which is in dire need of repair. 15 stalls in the market are offering jewellery, arts, crafts, sweets and goodies, most of which are made exclusively by local Irish designers and artisans – a good option if you’re still on the lookout for unique Christmas gifts.

This year will also see the addition of food stalls located outdoors on the cathedral grounds.

First founded in the 1000s, the cathedral, which is entirely privately operated with no state funding, uses all of its income from ticket entrance sales and other events like the Christmas market, to fund repairs and the daily operating costs of the church. This year, all proceeds from the Christmas market will go towards the cathedral’s recently launched €2 fundraising campaign.

Photo: William Murphy

The Christ Church Christmas market operates for four dates this Christmas over four consecutive Saturdays, beginning on the 26th November and continuing on the 3rd, 10th & 17th December. Stalls are open from 11am-4pm.

This is a great chance for visitors and locals alike to get a look inside the stunning medieval cathedral and its lovely restored crypt, while also supporting a worthy cause and finding some unique, handcrafted gifts.

Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Place, Dublin 8
+353 (0)1 677 8099
christchurchdublin.ie

Recession, economic downturn, the glorious end of the mean green Celtic Tiger. Ireland’s naughties-eleven woes are just so last year. But the fact is that with all the penny pinching going around, a lot of people are putting away their notions of fancy holidays and opting for closer-to-home getaways, and that makes sense. But giving up your ski holidays altogether might also be a bad idea this year.

Far from the maddening crowd: Les Gets. Photo: Cory Doctorow

Skiing (or snowboarding, for all you knuckle-draggers out there) can be a great way to vacate from the stresses of the Irish recession and rain and maybe even get a bit of fresh air and, god forbid, exercise in between apres-ski breaks.

While four years ago, you might’ve been flitting off to Vail or some other equally exotic sounding ski resort in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, nowadays, scaling back to somewhere like, say, France? is on a lot of people’s minds. It’s really not difficult to find nice and even cheap ski holidays in France if you know how and where to book. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Avoid the Anglo-Celtic ski bunnies.

Places like Val d’Isere, Tignes and Meribel, while top-notch, can become overrun with Brits and Irish Abroad, which drives up the prices and drives down the enjoyment factor. Do you really want to be battling other Irish for space at the bar to buy an over-priced, under-sized lager? Lesser frequented French ski resorts, such as the traditional Alpine farming village of Les Gets (pictured above) or Les Sybelles generally offer cheaper lift tickets and accommodation prices, as well as less crowded pistes.

Hire equipment there.

No matter what anyone tries to tell you, it’s always going to be cheaper and easier to hire your equipment – skis/boots/poles or board/boots at the ski resort than it is to pay to lug it through airports and on trains. The quality of the rentals you’ll get in most French ski resorts, even for the basic package, is quite good and shouldn’t cost you more than about €12 a day – less than you’d pay to check it in.

Go in a group.

Not too big, not too small. A mid-sized group – let’s say five or six people – is going to give you the best bang for your buck. You’ll be able to split one holiday apartment or cottage between you while still enjoying the discounted group rates on things like airfare, equipment hire and lift packages. It’s also more fun.

Self-cater.

Aside from the obvious point that self-catering is a lot cheaper than eating in restaurants, it’s also part of the ski experience. There’s nothing quite like watching huge snowflakes gently descending outside your chalet window while putting away more than a few bottles of red wine and cooking up some cheap and cheerful spag bol to really get you in the alpine mood. Perfect winter wonderland.

This post was brought to you by Inghams.

O’Casey’s classic tragicomedy derives its strength from its searingly accurate dialogue, which is funniest to those who know Dublin and the argot of Dubliners well. The tribal nature of the piece was laid bare at the opening night of its run in London’s National Theatre, where the audience seemed willing to join in on the laughs but definitely missed quite a few gags as well.

Ciarán Hinds as "Captain" Jack Boyle. Photo by Mark Douet

Missing a trick also seemed to be the key driver behind some decidedly mixed reviews of the production in the British press. Both the The Guardian and the London Evening Standard, for example, made a point of criticising Sinéad Cusack’s wizened performance as the matriarch of the drama, which to this writer seemed to be a perfectly accomplished turn as the quintessential Irish Mammy.

“Sinéad Cusack’s careworn Juno, a woman who seems to be shrinking into herself, becoming physically smaller in front of your eyes, finally blazes into life, but it is quite a long time coming”, The Guardian’s Lyn Gardner wrote, while also praising her as one of the best actors in a two-star scolding.

The Evening Standard’s Fiona Mountford argues Cusack looks “worn out” throughout her performance adding that while she “admittedly rallies for a terrific final scene, still looks miserable when things temporarily go well for the Boyles”. The two papers also criticised the grey-filled set design as making poverty look pretty, something which was completely lost on me as well. Admittedly Ciarán Hinds’ working class Dub Boyle does seem to become a bit vaudevillian toward the end as these critics argued, but he also excels earlier in the play at delivering some of the piece’s best lines.

Bob Crowley's set, like the play itself, is beautifully bleak. Photo by Mark Douet

Twinning Ireland’s Abbey Theatre and Britain’s National Theatre to create a co-production staged in Dublin and London is such a great idea, I can’t believe it hasn’t been done before. But in the end, this two-step could arguably have chosen a more cross-cultural play from among the extensive annals of Anglo-Irish literature for its debut, even if early 20th century tenement poverty should be as familiar a tale to England as it is to Ireland.

Next time, let’s hope the two theatres plump for a more universally enjoyable candidate that will leave both natives and foreigners laughing in Dublin and London.

Juno and the Paycock
Lyttelton Theatre
National Theatre London
Website
Tickets: £12-£45
Runs through February 2012.