After six astonishing weeks, construction of Pop-Up Globe - the world’s first temporary working replica of Shakespeare’s theatre, the second Globe had its big reveal last Monday.
It was the very first look inside the spectacular theatre. Pop-Up Globe will be even more beautiful this year, with new features including a brand new, handpainted Jacobean inspired Frons Scaenae (stage front) with two balconies and a stunning new ceiling. The amount of care and specificity of detail is remarkable, creating one of the most incredible interim theatres in history.
Impressive improvements include an even larger stage and two new luxury rooms adjacent the stage hosting up to six guests.
The theatre now has a new walkway in the roof allowing space for canons whilst the even larger stage gives the actors more playing space. The backstage area for the cast spans across the three storeys directly behind the stage. These rooms are more luxurious and exclusive for an even more stunning aristocratic experience. No matter where you sit or stand in the theatre you will never be more than 15 metres from the action on stage.
The ceiling, or what Shakespeare called “the heavens”, consists of 62 handpainted panels and is fastened to the underside of our extraordinary double-gabled roof.
Pop-Up Globe is a three-storey, 16 hexadecagon, 200 tonne, 900 person capacity theatre. It unites cutting-edge scaffold technology with a 400-year-old design to transport audiences back in time to experience Shakespeare’s masterworks in the space for which they were written.
Meanwhile, a small army of costumiers has constructed over 450 pieces for the four new productions: The uproarious comedy of Much Ado About Nothing, bloody war story of Henry V, psychological thriller of Othello and legendary pastoral comedy of As You Like It.
So the countdown is well and truly on to opening night. Just two weeks away and tickets are selling fast. Season 1 saw over 100,000 tickets sold and Season 2 is on track to do even more.
The 2017 season will run from February 19 to May 14. Pop-up Globe sold out last time. It will again. Fans are urged to act quickly to avoid disappointment.
Over 30 actors from the Pop-up Globe Theatre Company are also looking forward to treading the boards in the forthcoming season. Best-Actress nominated Miriama McDowell, known for her roles in No 2, This is Not My Life, The Dark Horse, Hope and Wire, Mahana and Terry Teo directs Much Ado About Nothing starring former Shortland Street actress Jacque Drew. Joining them in the company is fellow Shorty Streeter and Outrageous Fortune actress, Roimata Fox (Tariana Harris) playing Emilia in Othello and Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing.
Season 2 will also feature one of our most treasured actors, Whale Rider star Rawiri Paratene ONZM. With a career spanning more than four decades and a CV that ranges from Footroot Flats to Shakespeare, Paratene is charged with bringing the Duke of Exeter to life in Henry V. Once a Playschool presenter, he spent much of his career performing The Bard’s works around the world, as well as writing and performing in two dozen (at least) television dramas, comedies and telefeatures.
The cast will also include Shortland Street heartthrob TeKohe Tuhaka, Zoolander 2 and Sparticus actor Antonio Te Maioha, and Edward Newborn from The Waterhorse.
Some of the Season 1 favourites at Pop-Up Globe will be returning. They include Jonny Tynan Moss (Romeo), Stanley Jackson (Malvolio 12th Night & Mercutio R&J) and Stephen Butterworth (Capulet R&J & Maria 12th Night).
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