Pop-up Globe announces season extension
POP-UP GLOBE today announces that, due to popular demand, its sensational season of Shakespeare is being extended.
Six new shows only are being put on sale today for the smash-hit comedies Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It, taking the season to a whopping 13 weeks -- one of the longest and most successful theatrical events ever in New
Zealand.
With Much Ado About Nothing -- featuring the heartthrob Te Kohe Tuhaka and directed by NZ Actress of the Year Miriama McDowell -- selling out
across the entire season, fans of this hilarious play are urged to act without delay to avoid disappointment.
Pop-up Globe’s As You Like It is delighting audiences and critics alike, bringing “ n enormous sense of fun to a production that has pop culture
colliding with traditional folk music, a mash-up of accents and robust buffoonery that feeds off the boisterous energy
of the groundlings standing in front of the stage” - NZ Herald .
Just nine evening shows of the bloody dramas Othello and Henry V remain before the season must close.
The new shows on sale today are:
1. Monday 15 May. As You Like It. 1.30pm & 7.30pm
2. Tuesday 16 May. As You Like It. 7.30pm
3. Wednesday 17 May. Much Ado About Nothing. 7.30pm
4. Thursday 18 May. Much Ado About Nothing. 7.30pm
5. Friday 19 May. Much Ado About Nothing. 7.30pm
To date 170,000 tickets have now been sold to Pop-up Globe’s two Auckland seasons. "What started out as a wild and crazy
dream, has been life changing” says Dr Miles Gregory, Pop-up Globe’s Artistic Director and Founder. “Never could I have
dreamed of 170,000 New Zealanders would visit Pop-up Globe in 18 months. It really is a phenomenon and one I'm immensely
proud of."
The extension to the season has also sees the arrival of two new cast members. Phil Grieve, who was committed to a
national tour of Roger Hall's Four Flat Whites in Italy, has been replaced by veteran actors Simon Prast (Othello) and John Callen (Much Ado About Nothing).
Founder of the Auckland Theatre Company, Simon is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated actors and directors. For ATC, he
produced 60 plays and directed productions including TWELVE ANGRY MEN, CLOSER, THE CRIPPLE OF INNISHMAN, ART, WIT, THE
JUDAS KISS, HARURU MAI, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, HAIR, THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, THE GRADUATE and
THE PILLOWMAN. Television credits include, GLOSS, SHORTLAND STREET, HERCULES, XENA, WARRIOR PRINCESS, SERIAL KILLERS,
THIS IS NOT MY LIFE, GO GIRLS, and FILTHY RICH. Simon’s recent stage appearances include ANNE BOLEYN, THE GOOD SOUL OF
SZECHUAN and RUPERT. In 2016, he appeared as Atticus Finch in ATC’s production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. This is his
first appearance at the Pop Up Globe and he is delighted to join the Company for OTHELLO.
John has worked for 45 years as a professional actor, director and writer in theatre, radio, film and television. He has
been awarded best actor and best supporting actor. He has performed in or directed more than 100 stage productions and
two dozen television series and has appeared in a number of films including all three of The Hobbit movies. He has also done much voicework including narrating 150 documentaries internationally. Major directing credits
include Shortland Street, The Tribe, Taonga and the story of World War II hero Sir Keith Park, The Kiwi Who Saved Britain. John is a founding board member of The Actors’ Program and is an Equity member.