What's on: A Bard's Tale - the greatest plays Shakespeare never wrote - in Whangārei

Do they put the ham into Hamlet, make Much Ado About Nothing, sell the discount tent to Richard 111, warm up A Winter's Tale? The Covert Theatre brings improv Shakespeare to Whangārei. Photo/Supplied

There's a bit of a rave coming to Whangārei next week which will leave audiences wondering where the improv begins and where the play ends.

Dubbed ''the greatest play Shakespeare never wrote'', it's the well-reviewed A Bard's Tale which sees six improvisers take to the stage, pay homage to good Queen Bess and then before the audience's very eyes, improvise a full-length play in the style of Shakespeare.

The Covert Theatre is bringing the amazing show A Bard's Tale to Whangārei for the first time, performing at OneOneSix in Bank St on March 8 and 9.

If performing Shakespeare wasn't a challenge enough, the actors making up the play as they go takes it to a whole other level.

A Bard's Tale is one of those shows that has to be seen to be believed. Chances are, the intriguing, witty comedies, not-quite-histories and tragedies brought to the stage each night, never make it on to paper - the opportunity to see them indeed come, once in a lifetime.

Historians say a lot of Shakespeare was improvised and the style of today's improv comedy performance, with its audience interaction, is a lot closer to the original Shakespeare performances than many modern day interpretations.

A Bard's Tale debuted at the NZ International Comedy festival last year and also performed at the 2018 Hawaiian Improv Festival to rave reviews.

"This is a very special show that combines the best improvisation and that of the world of Shakespeare," Covert Theatre artistic director Wade Jackson said.

Audiences are even encouraged to come twice as it will be an entirely different show each night.

After the Whangārei performances, the well respected Covert Theatre takes A Bard's Tale to the Pop-up Globe Theatre's stage in Auckland.

The performance dates are March 8 and 9, at 8pm, OneOneSix Bank Street. Tickets are $16 to $20.

Visit eventfinda.co.nz to book.