Pop-up Globe
| Company type | Theatre company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Performing arts, Theatre |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Dr Miles Gregory, Tobias Grant |
| Defunct | 2021 |
| Fate | Liquidation |
| Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
Area served | New Zealand, Australia |
Key people | Dr Miles Gregory (Artistic Director), Tobias Grant (Co-founder) |
| Products | Shakespearean theatre productions, Jacobean theatre performances |
Pop-up Globe was a theatre company from New Zealand, headquartered in Auckland, that specialised in Jacobean theatre and the works of Shakespeare. It featured purpose-built, temporary replicas of the second Globe Theatre (1614–44), marking the first-ever full-scale reconstruction of this historic playhouse globally.
Between 2015 and 2020, Pop-up Globe drew nearly 748,000 spectators to its mainly Shakespearean performances across both New Zealand and Australia, having erected five temporary theatres in four different cities.
The company's first Pop-up Globe was constructed in Auckland CBD, next to the Auckland Town Hall, operating from February through May 2016. Its follow-up season took place from 23 February to 17 May 2017 at a newly designed Pop-up Globe located at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland.
Pop-up Globe's debut international season, managed by Live Nation Entertainment, was held from 21 September 2017 to 3 February 2018 near the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia, within an area temporarily called the Shakespeare Gardens.
Activities were halted in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. By March 2021, with no viable option for further international tours, the Pop-up Globe organisation proceeded into liquidation.
Background
Established in 2015 by Artistic Director Dr Miles Gregory and co-founder Tobias Grant, both originally from Auckland, Pop-up Globe combined Gregory’s extensive 18-year directing and producing experience in the UK theatre scene with Grant’s expertise in media and marketing.
The inaugural season commenced on 18 February 2016, coinciding with the quatercentenary of Shakespeare’s passing. It showcased internal productions of Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet, alongside touring stagings of Titus Andronicus, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, Antony and Cleopatra, and Hamlet. Over a span of twelve weeks, more than 100,000 tickets were sold, establishing it as the premier Shakespeare festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
During its second season, two repertory ensembles—named Queen's and King's—performed Much Ado About Nothing/Othello and As You Like It/Henry V respectively. This season also surpassed 100,000 ticket sales.
Theatre
The architectural concept of the theatre was developed based on research conducted by Professor Tim Fitzpatrick from Sydney University. Fitzpatrick’s design merged a mathematical projection derived from Wenceslaus Hollar’s 1640s sketch of the London skyline with Jacobean ad quadratum architectural principles, supplemented by limited archaeological findings from the original Globe Theatre site.
Pop-up Globe utilized a 16-sided polygonal layout, measuring in external diameter—approximately smaller than Shakespeare's Globe in London, which some specialists deemed excessively large. As a result, the standing 'yard' area for spectators was nearly 40% reduced compared to Shakespeare’s Globe.
The building rose to a height of , providing space for 300 standing 'groundlings' and seating for 600 patrons distributed over three galleries. The roof was crowned with a distinctive 'onion dome,' as illustrated in Hollar’s drawing.
Stage dimensions (wide, according to the Fortune Playhouse contract) were refined across seasons. Initially, the stage featured a canted scaenae frons with four neo-classical doors, allowing audience seating all around (360°), including "Lord's" and "Gentlemen's" rooms situated in upper galleries behind the stage. In 2017, informed by operational experience, the stage was redesigned with a flat baroque-style scaenae frons incorporating three doors, reducing audience seating to 270°, and adding a balcony plus a musicians’ gallery above the central door.
Style of presentation
Pop-up Globe emphasizes an interactive actor-audience dynamic, with direct address playing a central role. Performances incorporate 'judicious ad-libs' to adapt fluidly to live circumstances such as weather changes or audience engagement, ensuring each show remains distinctive. Live original music and dance are fundamental components, with every production concluding with a company jig. During the first three seasons, one troupe performed in authentic 17th-century Jacobean attire adhering strictly to original performance conventions, while another adopted an eclectic approach without early modern restrictions.
Actors
Pop-up Globe showcases international ensembles, with around 20% of performers hailing from outside New Zealand, including from the UK, US, and Australia. Except for specific productions such as the Admiral's Company (Around the Globe in 60 Minutes), Pembroke's Company (Julius Caesar), and Irihapeti Company (Emilia), actors participate in repertory companies, frequently doubling roles across different plays for practical rehearsal efficiency, workload distribution, or thematic alignment. For instance, in 2017 Chris Huntly-Turner portrayed both Henry V and Le Beau in As You Like It, while during 2019/2020 Stephen Lovatt and Jess Hong played father and daughter roles in both Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing.
Season One (February - May 2016)
Rehearsals commenced in Auckland on 5 January 2016 alongside construction of the playhouse adjacent to the Basement Theatre and Q Theatre on Grey's Avenue.
Pop-up Globe welcomed audiences starting 16 February 2016 with repertory presentations of Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet. Directed by Ben Naylor, Romeo and Juliet featured modern costumes with Jonathan Tynan-Moss and Christel Chapman leading. Meanwhile, Twelfth Night, under Miles Gregory’s direction, was staged in Jacobean costume by an all-male cast including Daniel Watterson (Olivia), Aaron Richardson (Viola), Stanley Andrew Jackson III (Malvolio), and Adrian Hooke (Feste).
Although initially planned to conclude on 24 April—shortly after Shakespeare’s 400th death anniversary—the season extended until 7 May. The two plays collectively ran for 97 performances, establishing a New Zealand record for Shakespeare attendance.
The season also incorporated various enrichment events such as stage workshops, public lectures, book launches, and guided tours of the playhouse. Pop-up Globe hosted visiting productions including Auckland Summer Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Byrnes Productions’ Antony and Cleopatra, Young Auckland Shakespeare Company’s gender-reversed Much Ado About Nothing, Lord Lackbeards’ all-female Hamlet, Fractious Tash’s Titus Andronicus, Grae Burton Productions’ all-female Henry V, and Ugly Shakespeare Company’s school adaptation of Othello. Loop Media presented a one-night concert titled Play On, featuring New Zealand musicians performing Shakespearean soliloquies set to Paul McLaney’s compositions.
Approximately 102,000 people attended Pop-up Globe’s inaugural season—marking it as the largest recorded audience for a drama festival in New Zealand at that time.
Season Two (February – May 2017)
Following several months of confidential preparation, Pop-up Globe revealed in August 2016 plans for a second season at a new site. In October 2016, over 1,200 performers submitted applications for auditions. The chosen venue was Auckland's Ellerslie Racecourse gardens, where the lineup included Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, As You Like It, and Henry V. This season marked the debut of two resident repertory companies, allowing for twice-daily performances without depending on outside productions.
Construction began with concrete foundations poured in December 2016, followed by building work commencing on January 4, 2017. The revamped playhouse welcomed audiences starting February 23. The Queen's Company staged Much Ado About Nothing (directed by Miriama McDowell) and Othello (directed by Ben Naylor). The Pasifika-inspired Much Ado About Nothing featured Semu Filipo and Jacque Drew as Benedick and Beatrice, set against a banana plantation backdrop with Dogberry and Verges portrayed as customs officials. In Othello, Te Kohe Tuhaka took on the title role while Haakon Smested played Iago, depicted as a sinister figure enhanced by dramatic pyrotechnics during the finale. Meanwhile, the all-male King's Company presented As You Like It (directed by Tom Mallaburn) and Henry V (directed by Miles Gregory). Jonathan Tynan-Moss and Adrian Hooke starred as Rosalind and Orlando in As You Like It, featuring Jacobean costumes to contrast two rival courts. Henry V showcased Chris Huntly-Turner in the lead role, transitioning from Jacobean attire to medieval armor for battle scenes that incorporated scaling ladders, pyrotechnic cannons, and flaming arrows launched into the frons scenae of the stage. All shows incorporated sophisticated pyrotechnics alongside mechanized flying effects installed within the ceiling 'heavens'.
Across all four plays, a total of 162 performances were delivered, with both As You Like It and Much Ado About Nothing extending their runs an additional week past the official closing date on May 14. Supplementary events included an NZ Actors' Equity fundraising event on April 2 and a concert by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra on April 23 that featured orchestral pieces inspired by Shakespeare.
The 2017 season attracted an audience of around 103,000 attendees.
Melbourne Transfer (September 2017 – February 2018)
Collaborating with Live Nation, Pop-up Globe embarked on its inaugural Australian transfer in Melbourne beginning September 21, 2017. The third Pop-up Globe structure was erected behind the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, incorporating much of the interior design—including the frons scenae—transported from the Ellerslie venue. The transfer showcased Queen's Company productions of Much Ado About Nothing and Othello, alongside King's Company renditions of As You Like It and Henry V. Regan Taylor assumed the lead role in Othello, while Asalemo Tofete took over as Benedick midway through the season. On October 25, 2017, the King's Company performed a special St Crispin's Day rendition of Henry V.
Joining these four New Zealand productions was a fresh Australian addition titled Around The Globe In 60 Minutes, penned by Tom Mallaburn and directed by John Walton. This family-friendly show introduced younger audiences to Shakespeare’s universe through a fictional narrative centered on William Davenant’s efforts to revive the Globe Theatre during the English Civil War.
Together, these five productions ran for a combined total of 299 performances before concluding on February 12, 2018. Approximately 150,000 patrons experienced Pop-up Globe during its Melbourne engagement.
Season Three (December 2017 – May 2018)
While the Melbourne seasons were underway, Pop-up Globe commenced rehearsals for their third Auckland summer season beginning on 30 October 2017. To alleviate logistical challenges and minimize costs, rehearsals were scheduled in a staggered manner, with productions premiering one after another: Buckingham's Company launched A Midsummer Night's Dream on 7 December 2017 and followed with The Merchant of Venice on 12 January 2018; Pembroke's Company debuted Julius Caesar on 11 January; Southampton's Company opened Macbeth on 7 February and The Comedy of Errors on 22 February. These five plays were performed in repertory until 1 April.
For Season Three, the interior of the playhouse underwent a redesign featuring a new frons scenae adorned with gold and blue hues to evoke Jacobean style. The stage pillars were slimmed down, a continuous tarras took the place of the former central gallery, and a projecting balcony was installed to accommodate musicians. Stage boxes were removed to allow repositioning of doors, and a bar was introduced to offer refreshments to patrons during performances.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream (directed by Miles Gregory), Te Reo Māori translations by Pierre Lyndon were integrated, combining Jacobean costumes with contemporary tradie outfits for the Mechanicals and traditional Māori attire for the fairy characters. Jason Te Kare portrayed both Theseus and Oberon; Edward Peni and Reuben Butler assumed the roles of Hippolyta/Titania and Puck respectively.
The production of The Merchant of Venice (directed by David Lawrence) embraced the intricate themes of the play through Jacobean-era costumes. Kevin Keys took on the role of Antonio, Sarah Griffin portrayed Portia, Cameron Moore played Bassanio, and Peter Daubé appeared as Shylock.
Rita Stone’s direction of Julius Caesar featured a gender-reversed modern dress cast depicting Rome as governed by women with male indentured servants; Sheena Irving played Brutus, Alison Bruce was Cassius, and Donogh Rees portrayed Caesar.
Tom Mallaburn’s rendition of Macbeth showcased medieval attire alongside singing witches, gripping battle sequences, and immersive live music throughout the venue. Stephen Lovatt and Amanda Billing starred as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Set within a Mediterranean military police state, The Comedy of Errors (directed by Miles Gregory) incorporated belly dancing and Whirling Dervishes; Paul Jennings and Jason Will alternated as the Antipholuses, while Tom Clark and Blake Kubena played the Dromios.
Pre-show discussions were introduced in Season Three to deepen audience involvement. Across all five productions, there were 160 performances in total, with extended runs for both A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merchant of Venice, concluding on 15 May 2018.
Pop-up Globe Auckland recorded attendance figures exceeding 91,000 during this season.
Sydney Transfer (September–December 2018)
In collaboration with Live Nation, Pop-up Globe initiated its second Australian transfer by opening in Sydney on 5 September 2018. Building upon insights gained from Melbourne’s season, Australian firm Stage Kings constructed the fourth Pop-up Globe at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter, located near Fox Studios and the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Sydney lineup featured Buckingham's Company's presentations of A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merchant of Venice, alongside Southampton's Company's productions of Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors. Cast adjustments included Asalemo Tofete and Jade Daniels as Titania/Hippolyta and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jonathan Martin as Antonio in The Merchant of Venice, and Hugh Sexton as Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors.
These four shows amassed a total of 199 performances before closing on 16 December 2018. At the 2018 BroadwayWorld theatre awards, A Midsummer Night’s Dream received Best Production honors; individual awards were presented to actors Chris Huntly-Turner, Max Loban, Sarah Griffin, Best Choreographer Brigid Costello, Best Director Miles Gregory, as well as Best Costume Design awarded to Bob Capocci and Shona Tawhaio.
Pop-up Globe Sydney attracted an audience exceeding 105,000 patrons.
Season Four (November 2018 – April 2019)
In July 2018, as preparations for the Sydney relocation were underway, Pop-up Globe revealed that its fourth Auckland summer season would present The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, Hamlet, and Measure For Measure. These plays were unified by the theme of 'abuse of power'. The choice to employ exclusively male actors in The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III generated debate, leading Pop-up Globe to pledge gender-balanced casting for all subsequent Auckland shows.
The interior layout of the playhouse remained consistent with Season Three, featuring a broad tarras extending over the central gallery. However, the frons scenae was refreshed with lighter marble hues, replacing the previous dark brown and gold palette and reintroducing Jacobean brickwork motifs reminiscent of Season Two. The yard bar was eliminated and substituted with two rows of elevated bench seating at the back of the yard, creating a mid-tier ticket option.
To address staffing complexities and sustain payroll without external funding, Season Four was divided into two separate halves instead of operating repertory style. One ensemble performed from November through January; a second group took over from February until April.
Rehearsals for the Somerset's Company commenced on 1 October 2018. They debuted The Taming of the Shrew on 16 November and followed with Richard III on 17 November. Under the direction of Brigid Costello and David Lawrence, The Taming of the Shrew starred Natasha Daniel and Jamie Irvine as Katherina and Petruchio, dressed in 17th-century Italian attire, featuring an innovative framing device involving Christopher Sly. Richard III, directed by Miles Gregory and headlined by Stephen Butterworth, incorporated medieval pageantry, elaborate Jacobean costumes, and a meticulously staged Battle of Bosworth complete with pikes and arquebuses.
The Nottingham's Company began rehearsing on 4 January 2019 and opened Measure For Measure on 14 February followed by Hamlet on 15 February. Directed by Miles Gregory, Measure For Measure showcased Will Alexander as the Duke, Rebecca Rogers as Isabella, and Hugh Sexton as Angelo. Set in 17th-century Vienna, it included musical interludes and a humorous depiction of the Duke disguised as a blind friar. David Lawrence directed Hamlet, performed in Jacobean costume with Adrian Hooke in the title role, exploring original staging methods such as a 'fast trap' to facilitate ghost appearances.
Together these four productions delivered 141 performances before concluding on 14 April 2019. The season featured numerous pre-show lectures and post-performance Q&A sessions. Notably, the matinee performance of Measure For Measure on 17 February marked Pop-up Globe’s milestone 1000th show.
Attendance for Season Four was approximately 60,000 patrons.
New Zealand nationwide tour (June – September 2019)
During winter 2019, Pop-up Globe embarked on its inaugural nationwide tour across New Zealand. Scenic designer Malcolm Dale developed a flexible indoor Jacobean-style set that could be adapted to various proscenium theatres. The Nottingham's Company restaged and revised both Measure For Measure and Hamlet to suit this touring format. Significant cast changes included Clementine Mills taking on Isabella’s role and Jonathan Tynan-Moss returning as the Duke, whose disguise was modified from a German friar to an evangelical Southern preacher.
The tour launched at Dunedin’s Regent Theatre on 27 June and proceeded through Nelson, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Hamilton, and New Plymouth. It concluded on 8 September after completing 48 performances which attracted around 25,000 attendees. Both plays also returned for a two-week engagement at Pop-up Globe’s Auckland venue during August as part of the 2019 Winter Season.
2019 Winter Season (July – August 2019)
During ATEED's Elemental Festival, Pop-up Globe hosted its inaugural winter season at the Ellerslie playhouse in Auckland. This collaboration facilitated the installation of a temporary roof over the yard, providing shelter for groundlings from adverse weather conditions. The newly established Exeter's Company debuted Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and had initially intended to stage Middleton's The Roaring Girl, but this was replaced prior to rehearsals by a revival of 2017’s A Midsummer Night's Dream. This production represented Pop-up Globe’s first remount featuring an almost entirely fresh cast, with returning performers Patrick Carroll (Demetrius), Jonathan Martin (Egeus), and Reuben Butler (Puck). Antonio Te Maioha took on the roles of Oberon/Theseus, while Renaye Tamati portrayed Titania/Hippolyta.
Under the direction of Miles Gregory, Twelfth Night premiered on 19 July, showcasing predominantly Elizabethan costume design. The cast included Rebecca Rogers as Viola, Sheena Irving as Olivia, Jonathan Martin as Malvolio, and Keagan Carr Fransch as Feste. Following this, A Midsummer Night's Dream opened on 20 July. The season comprised 35 repertory performances running through 26 August and featured daytime presentations of the Stage Company's A Children's Midsummer Night's Dream, along with two performances of The Two Gentlemen of Verona by the Pop-up Globe Youth Theatre Company. Additionally, revised renditions of Measure For Measure and Hamlet were presented in two weeks of encore performances.
Perth Transfer (October – December 2019)
In collaboration with Live Nation, Pop-up Globe initiated its third Australian transfer in Perth on 9 October 2019, situated within the Crown Casino precinct. While maintaining the interior frons scenae design consistent with Melbourne and Sydney—originally adapted from Auckland’s Ellerslie playhouse—the Perth venue underwent redesigns aimed at simplified and cost-efficient assembly. The gold onion dome was preserved; however, the roof structure was streamlined and canvas walls replaced corrugated iron to enhance temperature regulation.
The Perth season featured Nottingham's Company's productions of Measure For Measure and Hamlet, alongside Exeter's Company's renditions of Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Cast adjustments were primarily within Exeter's Company, introducing Eds Eramiha as Puck and Renaye Tamati as Feste, while Nottingham's Company remained largely unchanged following a year of joint performances.
These four productions ran in repertory until concluding on 8 December 2019 after 107 performances, attracting an audience nearing 60,000. Notable company achievements during this period included musician Oscar West reaching his 600th performance and Adrian Hooke marking his 400th.
Season Five (December 2019 – March 2020)
In August 2019, Pop-up Globe announced that its fifth summer season would serve as its final Auckland engagement before dismantling the Ellerslie playhouse and vacating the racecourse site. The organization redirected its strategic focus toward international markets by capitalizing on its extensive repertoire for remounts featuring new casts—as exemplified by the successful Perth transfer of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Financial challenges stemming from sustaining permanent staff, company operations, and venue maintenance in Auckland alongside overseas activities prompted management to revert to their original approach: establishing temporary pop-up theatres across various cities.
The 'Summer of Love' Farewell Season comprised three main productions. Northumberland's Company commenced rehearsals on 29 October 2019, with previews beginning on 7 December before opening Romeo and Juliet on 13 December and Much Ado About Nothing on 14 December. Directed by Miles Gregory, Romeo and Juliet featured Darcy Kent and Jess Hong in lead roles, combining Jacobean fashion with contemporary streetwear; notably, the Capulets' masque was styled as an extravagant fruit-themed celebration. The revival of Miriama McDowell’s Pasifika-inspired production of Much Ado About Nothing starred Renee Lyons and Rutene Spooner, with Theo David reprising Claudio. Both plays ran in repertory until closing on 1 March 2020 after 82 performances, drawing approximately 40,000 patrons.
The Farewell Season also included daytime showings of the Stage Company's A Children's Midsummer Night's Dream alongside four presentations of All's Well That Ends Well by the Youth Theatre Company. Additionally, Youth Theatre classes combined for a one-night staging of King Lear, segmented according to age groups.
The final production was the southern hemisphere premiere of Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s play Emilia, performed by the all-female Irihapeti Company under the direction of Miriama McDowell. Opening on 5 March 2020 amid escalating COVID-19 concerns, it was the first new work presented at the Ellerslie playhouse.
Due to government-imposed restrictions in response to COVID-19, performances ceased early after the show on 15 March; remaining scheduled events were canceled as New Zealand entered lockdown.
Pop-up Globe entered liquidation in March 2021 following prolonged inactivity and financial losses caused by pandemic-related constraints.