Aussie theatregoers have access to a healthy supply of Shakespeare; Melburnians have just had the pleasure of Melbourne Theatre Company’s Macbeth, starring Aussie action hero Jai Courtney, and will soon see the opening of Bell Shakespeare’s new production of The Merchant Of Venice at the Arts Centre.
But for theatre lovers hoping to see the Bard’s plays as there were originally conceived, a costly trans-hemisphere jaunt to London’s Globe Theatre — the reconstruction of the great English playwright's famed 16th-century venue, as seen in the romantic movie hit Shakespeare In Love — was the only option.
Until now, that is. Thanks to a new addition to Melbourne’s skyline, all the authenticity of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre will be on the doorstep of the city's culture vultures. Pop-Up Globe is a full-scale temporary replica of this iconic theatre, which will be situated next to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Operating from 21 Sep to 12 Nov, the theatre will host a series of Shakespeare productions, conceived and performed using the same period techniques as their premiere seasons in the 1500s.
Shakespeare’s plays are often thought of today as the highest of highbrow, but in their day, they were wild, unpredictable crowd-pleasing blockbusters. “This isn’t dusty Shakespeare. This is now. Alive. Lika a party,” says Pop-Up Globe founder and Artistic Director, Dr Miles Gregory. “The relationship between actor and audience, the spectacular space itself, together with the power of Shakespeare’s incredible work, means attending plays at Pop-Up Globe is totally different to anything you’ve seen before.”
Four of Shakespeare’s best loved plays will be on offer during the venue’s fleeting season: As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello and Henry V. There will also be historical tours of the venue revealing the history of its ancient original and the rich story of the evolution of Shakespearian theatre.
Tickets for Pop-Up Globe are now on sale.
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