You are a student. You have little money, and the dollars you do have are reserved for things that nourish, enlighten, or intoxicate you. Maybe you enjoy theatre, but you don’t know how to do it, where to go, when to go, who to go with, what to wear, what to see, and of course, how much it will set you back. Below, you will find The Varsity’s guide to seeing theatre in this vibrant, TTC-accessible city. Besides the obvious, you’ll also pick up helpful tips to get the most out of your experience, because going to the theatre is about more than just watching the play.

You’ve got $10 to $15

Moneybags! You’ve got a wealth of options ahead of you. Most theatres in Toronto offer a pay-what-you-can show once per week, usually the Sunday matinée. Below is a list of theatres that offer PWYC performances.

Buddies in Bad Times: Buddies, probably the most fun theatre in town, is Toronto’s gay/lesbian/queer theatre. The shows in their season are exciting, diverse and always thought-provoking. What to wear: anything goes at Buddies. If you show up wearing buttless chaps, you probably won’t be alone. Box office opens at 12:30 p.m., show begins at 2:30 p.m.. Suggested donation: $10.

Factory Theatre: First off, if you head down to the Factory, you also have to go to stop off New York Subway (520 Queen St. W.) and get a burrito-they’re amazing. At the theatre get your ticket early-box office opens at 1:00 p.m., show begins at 2:00 p.m.-and hang around to eavesdrop on strangers. What to wear: old jeans, your mom’s poncho-nobody cares about you, let alone what you look like. Have a beer at intermission and stare at the cool old posters on the walls. Suggested donation: $10.

Tarragon Theatre: Strong actors, interesting Canadian pieces, and a great location by the train-tracks at Howland and Bridgman give the Tarragon its coveted punch. Bring a friend without a nut allergy with whom you can share a yummy macadamia nut cookie and a cranberry cocktail at intermission. Sunday matinees start promptly at 2:30 p.m., box office opens at 1:00 p.m., and it’s open seating, so show up early to ensure you get a good spot-the Tarragon will almost definitely be packed on a Sunday. Suggested donation: they say $15, we say $7.50. Half-way there is better than no-way there.

Theatre Passe Muraille: TPM’s season is a bit more modest, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. Tip: From Feb. 13, catch Ahmed Ghazali’s captivating play The Sheep and the Whale, directed by Soheil Parsa. Box office opens at 12:00 p.m., show time is 2:30 p.m. Suggested Donation: $5.

Canstage – Berkley St. Theatre/Bluma Appel Theatre: So, Canstage thinks they can trick you by putting their PWYC show on a Monday night. The upside is that it’s swankier to attend the theatre at night. Tip: box office opens at 10:00 a.m., so send your minions down there bright and early. Seats are assigned, so ask to for the best available. Shows begin at 8:00 p.m. Warning: Canstage audiences tend to like to talk at the play-anticipating dialogue, providing what they believe to be insightful commentary, etc.-so be prepared to spend some time chewing on your fist to keep from using it. Recommended donation: a homeless man outside the St. Lawrence Centre once told me that I should buy a ticket for $1. I admired his moxie, but still shelled out my usual $7.50. You decide…

You’ve got a T-Card and are willing to wait/walk

The Harbourfront Centre: This venue offers some interesting deals, although they vary by production. For the twice annual New World Stage Festival, which is showcasing a fantastic variety of international work right now, students can get $13 rush seats 13 minutes before the show. The regular ticket prices are pretty steep, so line up early and reap the rewards of being a student.

Buddies in Bad Times: Buddies offers $15 student tickets to any show that go on sale at 6:00 p.m. Pick them up in-person at the box office with valid student ID.

Canadian Opera Company: COC offers $20 tickets to anyone under 30. They sell one week before opening night (check their website for the schedule). Tickets are available in person at the Four Seasons Centre, or through the COC website using the promotional Code “DEAL.” Valid photo ID with your birthdate is required.

Soulpepper Theatre Company: Soulpepper offers a $28 student rate, as well as $20 rush tickets and $5 rush tickets if you’re under 21. Valid student ID required.

Tarragon Theatre: The Tarragon offers $18 to $20 student-priced tickets for their Extra and Mainspace productions. Book them in advance to make sure you get a ticket. Valid student ID required.

T.O. Tix: This downtown vendor offers half-price tickets to most theatrical productions (plus a handling charge), available the day of the performance or in advance, online and in-person at the T.O. Tix Booth located at Dundas Square at the corner of Yonge and Dundas. Visit the T.O. Tix website (www.totix.ca) for a full list of what’s available. They also offer HipTix, special $5 student tickets, on the web or at the booth. Remember to exchange your confirmation printout for tickets at the theatre. Valid student ID required for HipTix.

Hart House Theatre: This on-campus destination offers $12 student tickets online at www.uofttix.ca to all of their shows-including UC Follies’ production of Nine which opens this Thursday.

Previews: Previews are the performances that go up before the official opening of a production. Most of these theatres offer preview tickets at prices between $10 and $20. This can either be really interesting or tortuous. It’s a coin-toss-which is all part of the allure.

You’ve got nothing but your two calloused hands:

Sing for your supper: Once a month (next is tonight!), in the back of the Sparrow (92 Ossington) this free play reading series lets you watch or read new scripts by local playwrights.

Volunteer: Are you ready to earn your theatre? Buddies, Factory, Tarragon, Passe Muraille, and many of the festivals that occur over the course of the year (like the Fringe And Summerworks) are often looking for volunteer ushers and other front-of-house help. What’s in it for you? Free tickets in return for your toil! Visit the websites of whichever theatre you’re interested in for more detailed instructions with regard to being a volunteer.

If you’re feeling sneaky….

We don’t endorse the following technique-but if you try to sneak in you can assuage your guilty conscience with the knowledge that some theatre greats have had the same idea. British playwright Tom Stoppard once described how he would get into plays he couldn’t afford as a young man. Knowing that ushers don’t check tickets to re-enter the theatre after the first act, Stoppard would slip in with the crowd at the first interval, and find a seat (particularly easy if people leave after the opening act). So, he could see at least half a play for zero dollars-relying only upon devious, foxlike cunning.

Whatever your route to seeing theatre in Toronto, you have a number of relatively simple, law-abiding ways that will provide you with what you’re looking for at an accessible price. Many of these details are subject to change, so confirm with the theatre before you set a date. Now get your bum in a seat!