Drama on Newstalk presents THE COST OF LIVING, an original radio comedy-drama by Anna Merritt and Deborah Wiseman. The story is a heartfelt and humorous exploration of marital breakdown in a challenging financial landscape in the Ireland of today.

Jen and Tony Tully’s twenty-six-year marriage is dead. The separation agreement is signed, only there is no new freedom for them to celebrate or no excitement at the prospect of new beginnings. Victims of the dire cost of living crisis, they have no choice but to continue to live under the same roof. Their cohabitation is rife with tension and a list of rules to manage household conflict isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. With no love, no money, and no space how can they possibly move on?

THE COST OF LIVING was funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee. It was produced, written and directed by Anna Merritt & Deborah Wiseman. Sound production by Amy O’Dwyer. Jen is played by Mary Murray, Tony is played by Jed Murray, Otis is played by Cal O’Driscoll, Carol/Hilary played by Deborah Wiseman, Angie/Sue played by Deirdre Monaghan and Alan is played by Ciaran O’Grady.

The story of a great Irish poet and the teacher who helped her fear of speaking in public.

Principal Anne sees a rolled up ball of paper fall out of Mary Ogun-Banwo's schoolbag. She opens it to reveal a beautiful poem, written fully in the Irish language. Reluctantly, Mary allows her to enter it the All Ireland Schools Poetry Competition and it gets to the final, where she’ll have to read it on live national television! Mary now realises she suffers from chronic stage fright, so Principal Anne sends her to study with unorthodox teacher and trained counsellor, James Jones, in order to help her delve into her past and figure out what’s holding her back. This is a story of a reluctant poet’s rise to win the All Ireland Schools Poetry Competition and the teachers who helped her overcome her stage fright by confronting her personal traumas.

‘Speak Through Your Silence' is broadcast on Newstalk on Sunday 17th November with repeat broadcast on Saturday 23rd November.

More information on this programme can be found at: www.irishaudiodrama.com.

Podcast available at newstalk.com/podcasts/drama-on-newstalk after the broadcast.

‘Speak Through Your Silence ’was produced by Jonathan Farrelly and Katerina Economides and was supported by Coimisiun na Mean through the television licence fee. Jonathan Farrelly is a writer and documentarian, specialising in sport and historical drama. Katerina Economides is a writer and Doctor of Humanities, specialising in Folklore, Myth and Future Studies.

This weekend, Documentary & Drama on Newstalk airs the premiere of Third Time Lucky, a topical comedy-drama in which IMRO-nominated producer Brian Gallagher explores the tensions that arise when allotment holders discover that there is pyrite in their community centre.

Third Time Lucky is told partly from the perspective of Councillor Benny Kelly, a slippery local representative who has crossed swords with the residents in the past but who this time sees an opportunity to win favour.

With long-standing grievances between members of the allotment committee bubbling below the surface, tempers flare when reactionary Mick Delaney insults an official from the local council – who threatens to close the community centre because of fire and safety irregularities.

Meanwhile with government pyrite funding only available for dwelling places, Benny comes under pressure to find some way of obtaining funding for the residents.

The stakes are raised when Emma Johnson, a journalist who is also on the committee, writes an inflammatory article for her newspaper regarding dodgy builders – with whom Benny has had under-the-counter dealings.

The pressure gets to Benny, who has a heart attack, causing him to re-evaluate his purpose in life. But can the leopard really change his spots? And can he be trusted, or is it too good to be true, when he cooks up a scheme to save the clubhouse from closure?

Starring Claudia Carroll, Mark O’Regan, and Sharon Hogan, Third Time Lucky was written and produced by Brian Gallagher.

Third Time Lucky will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 29th September at 7am with repeat broadcast on Saturday 5th October at 9pm.

Third Time Lucky can also be listened to online at: www.newstalk.ie. Podcast available at: newstalk.ie/documentaryonnewstalk after the broadcast.