Shakespeare season extended as Kiwis flock to Globe

Performace of Romeo and Juliet at the Pop-Up Globe theatre in Auckland. Photo / Supplied by Sandra Roberts

Kiwis have flocked to Auckland for a chance to experience the magic of Shakespeare at the Pop-Up Globe, with organisers extending the season twice to meet demand.

Another two weeks of performances have been scheduled due to the overwhelming demand, with tickets set to go on sale this morning at 11am.

The theatre, which is a full scale replica of London's Globe Theatre, opened on February 19 and has experienced sell out crowds ever since.

An additional two weeks have been added for the productions of Romeo & Juliet and Twelfth Night, running until May 8.

Fans who have struggled to secure tickets to the popular shows will now be in with a chance to catch a performance, with organisers urging theatre-goers to "act quickly as these shows will sell out".

"The response to Pop-up Globe has been astonishing," said Dr Miles Gregory, artistic director and founder of Pop-up Globe.

"We've been overwhelmed by both demand for tickets and the most amazing feedback from many people who, like me, have loved their experience at Pop-up Globe."

More than 80,000 tickets have been sold, and 20,000 school children have attended performances of Shakespeare's masterworks, since the Pop-up Globe opened in February.

The season has already been extended once to meet demand, and for weeks people have been "scrambling" to secure the standing 'groundling' tickets which were the only ones still available, organisers said.

"We're very grateful to Auckland city, our neighbours, supporters, sponsors and partners all of whom have been instrumental in allowing Pop-up Globe to pop-up, and now stay up, so Aucklanders can enjoy more of these very special performances," Dr Gregory said.

"Most of all I'd like to thank Auckland for welcoming and embracing Pop-up Globe, the world's first temporary working replica of the second Globe theatre. I don't think Pop-up Globe could have popped up anywhere else in the world. This is a very special project in a very special place."

The stats

• Dates: February 19 - May 8
• Shows: 10 (Pop-up Globe Theatre Company: Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night; Visiting companies: Hamlet, Anthony & Cleopatra, Titus, The Tempest, Henry V, Much Ado about Nothing, Ugly Othello, Play On)
• Production companies: 9
• Actors: Over 160
• Performances: 128
• Tickets sold: Over 80,000
• School students attended: 20,000
• Guided tours of the theatre: 50
• Professional development workshops: 26
• Flag changes at the Pop-up Globe Theatrs: 60
• Specially constructed onion dome roof adornment: 1

Pop-up Globe Theatre Company

• Cast: 15
• Characters played: 49
• Musicians: 5
• Production team: 32
• Volunteer ushers: 521
• Stage combat tutors: 1
• Litres of stage blood in Romeo & Juliet fights: 47
• Litres of bubble fluid in Twelfth Night special effects: 63
• Bubble machines for Twelfth Night special effects: 17
• Lemons used in lemon tea for actors: 164
• Hours of gig rehearsals: 50
• Approx audience members flirted with by cast during performances of Romeo & Juliet: 280
• Audience members spattered by stage blood: 105