Pop-Up-Globe promises a new-old approach to Shakespeare

Next month a season of Shakespeare plays will open in Auckland’s theatre precinct. But these will be no ordinary productions as they are in what is termed a Pop-Up Globe, a facsimile of the Globe Theatre in London.

It is not that this is just a clever way of doing performances of Shakespeare, it is also a way of being authentic that makes this event special. Having seen plays at London’s Globe makes one aware of the how different performances can be when they replicate how 17th-century audiences would have seen the works, with some people in seating while the majority of the audience (the groundlings) stand in the body of the theatre, right up to the stage.

In 2000 I saw a production of Hamlet with Mark Rylance in the leading role. The “to be or not to be speech” is normally done in a contemplative style, the actor almost removing himself from the action. Mr Rylance, however, changed that. He went to the edge of the stage right up to where the groundlings stood and eyeballed one audience member, delivering the lines as though to a friend and confidant. He made Hamlet into a vulnerable and more human character.

In the 2003 all-female production Richard III, some of the action involved members of the cast suddenly appearing in the midst of the groundlings. When Buckingham calls on Richard to accept the crown, saying that refusal would mean they would have to put someone else on the throne, he suddenly thrust one of the audience members on to a stool much to the alarm of the person but also turning the audience into a London crowd.

Both these highlighted how different a Globe production could be and how the space was more relevant to Shakespeare’s language, choice  of scenes and his frequent use of the  play within the play.

The Auckland season, probably  the largest Shakespeare festival in the southern hemisphere -will also feature productions of Shakespeare's other masterpiece's Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest, Titus, Antony & Cleopatra, Hamlet and Henry V.

Pop-up Globe is the world’s first full-scale working replica of the second Globe theatre (1614 1642). Marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 1616, it is currently under construction in Auckland's CBD  theatre precinct.

Pop-up Globe Theatre Company is an ensemble of 16 actors, who play parts in both productions, and an international creative team of directors, associates and specialists.

The artistic director of Pop-up Globe Dr Miles Gregory says, “The players in our company are a thrilling and diverse blend of new faces and bastions of the international theatre community. We are greatly looking forward to the cast’s unique energy and dynamic that will bring these special plays to life.”

Dr Gregory will direct the cast in Twelfth Night while the University of London’s Ben Naylor will bring the tale of Romeo & Juliet to life. A leading UK expert on Shakespeare and renaissance theatre, Mr Naylor brings a wealth of knowledge and international experience to Pop-up Globe.

The roles of Romeo and Juliet will be played by Jonathan Tynan-Moss and Christel Chapman while Aaron Richardson takes on the role of Viola/Cesario in Twelfth Night.

Mr Tynan-Moss has performed at the Edinburgh Festival, the National Student Drama Festival, and in conjunction with the Scottish National Theatre. He has also performed in venues around London and the South East. He has featured in various production including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, As You Like It and Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme.

Chapman has worked with such companies as Red Leap, the prestigious French Groupe F and has recently finished working with Massive Theatre Company.  

A recent recipient of director of the year at the prestigious Wellington Theatre Awards, Miriama McDowell (Dark Horse, Hope and Wire and No.2) will play Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet while theatre and television veteran Edward Newborn will play Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night. With over 40 years’ experience internationally, Newborn’s most recent credits include The Original Phantom of the Opera in Tokyo and the 2015 London season of Simpatico. He has also become a regular on television series including Xena, Hercules and Go Girls.

Named Actress of the Year for her portrayal of Lady Macbeth, Carmel McGlone has performed from Shakespeare to Schiller on virtually all New Zealand’s main stages, TV, film- as well as in Australia where she was part of Simon Phillip’s core ensemble at the State Theatre Company. She also starred in the NZ movie Hook, Line and Sinker; both series of the Emmy-award winning online series Reservoir Hill as well as local tele- feature Rage and the TV series Girl vs Boy.

The full season programme

Romeo & Juliet from Friday 19 February
Twelfth Night from Saturday 20 February
Much Ado About Nothing Sunday 21 February Only
Henry V from Sunday 28 February

The Tempest from Thursday 3 March
Titus from Sunday 13 March
Antony & Cleopatra from Monday 28 March
Hamlet 11 April only 1pm & 7pm

Full Cast List for Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet

Aaron Richardson (TN: Viola/Cesario  R&J:Paris/Gregory)

Adrian Hooke (TN: Feste; R&J: Sampson/2^nd Musician/1^st Watchman)

Alexander Holloway (TN: Curio/Officer; R&J: Balthasar)

Carl Drake (TN: Orsino; R&J: Montague)

Carmel McGlone (R&J: Nurse/Lady Montague)

Christel Chapman (R&J: Juliet)

Daniel Watterson (TN: Olivia; R&J: Benvolio/ Friar John/ 3^rd Watchman)

Edward Newborn (TN: Sir Toby Belch; R&J: Friar Lawrence/Old Capulet)

Jatinder Singh (TN: Antonio; R&J: Tybalt/ 2^nd Watchman)

Jonathan Tynan-Moss (TN: Sebastian; R&J: Romeo)

Miriama McDowell (R&J: Lady Capulet)

Oscar West (TN: Musician; R&J: Musician)

Paul Willis (TN: Sir Andrew Aguecheek; R&J: Peter)

Phodiso Dintwe (TN: Valentine/Officer; R&J: Apothecary/Page/1^st Musician)

Stanley Jackson III (TN: Malvolio; R&J: Mercutio/Escalus)

Stephen Butterworth (TN: Maria; R&J: Capulet)

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