The Pop-Up Globe Is Offering Groundling Tickets for Five Bucks

Do you enjoy being caught up in Shakespearean tussles? Standing inches from the action onstage? And perhaps even being splattered with fake blood? Courtesy of a new sponsorship initiative, Auckland's Pop-Up Globe is now offering groundling tickets for just five bucks. Ellerslie Event Centre has stepped in with the sponsorship deal that will make groundling tickets for The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III accessible for all pockets.

For those who missed out on the last three seasons, the full-scale replica of the second Globe Theatre seats 900 theatregoers over three tiers and includes standing room for 'groundlings' to recreate the experience of a night out at the 16th century theatre. The yard is uncovered and open to the elements. It's advised that groundlings bring a raincoat and a close-fitting hat as umbrellas are not permitted in the yard.

The 2018/19 Pop-Up Globe season welcomes four new productions with the common thread of 'abuse of power'. Headlining the season is the most famous play in history, Hamlet. Pop-Up Globe's Nottingham Company will present the tragedy alongside Shakespeare's most controversial comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, and Measure for Measure, a problem comedy that considers the sexual exploitation and abuse of power. Somerset Company's take on bloody comic tragedy Richard III rounds off the season.

It will again feature theatrical trickery of the Jacobean era, including cannons, flaming arrows, litres of fake blood and beautiful period costumes constructed by the in-house wardrobe department.

From today, all advanced groundling tickets purchased online for The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III will be available online until 90 minutes before the show start time at the subsidised rate. Door sales for all shows are available at the standard $25 walk-up price.

The $5 groundling tickets are available for all shows. Tickets can be purchased from popupglobe.co.nz.

Image: Jay Wennington.