Bloody Good Shakespeare: How Pop-up Globe made audiences fall back in love with the Bard

For too long, Shakespeare has been tamed - trapped in academic reverence, smothered by tradition, and stripped of its raw theatrical power. But at Pop-up Globe, something different happened.Between 2015 and 2020, this radical theatre experience exploded onto the world stage, playing to 750,000 people with productions that were dangerous, hilarious, and wildly popular. Audiences stood, cheered, laughed, and wept as Pop-up Globe reignited the raw energy of Shakespeare’s plays in ways not seen for centuries.Now, for the first time, Miles Gregory - founder and artistic director of Pop-up Globe - reveals the creative vision, bold artistic choices, and radical techniques that made these productions an international sensation. Part manifesto, practical guide, and behind-the-scenes exploration, this book offers directors, actors, and theatre-makers the tools to create Shakespeare that grips audiences and refuses to let go.Inside, you’ll discover:✔ How to direct Shakespeare with impact. From casting to staging, from unlocking the power of verse to making the text pulse with life, this book lays out a blueprint for productions that thunder with immediacy.✔ The secrets behind Pop-up Globe’s success. What made these productions different? How did a replica 1614 playhouse create an electric actor-audience connection? How did the company sell out theatres night after night?✔ How to make theatre dangerous, unpredictable, and thrilling. Shakespeare’s original audiences were rowdy, vocal, and deeply engaged. Discover how to shatter the fourth wall and make your audiences part of the show.✔ Why Shakespeare still matters today, and how to prove it. Whether in theatres, classrooms, or experimental spaces, this book reimagines how Shakespeare can ignite modern audiences.✔ Exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Featuring never-before-seen production photographs and first-hand insights, this book takes readers inside the creative process behind Pop-up Globe’s bloody good theatre.A must-read for directors, actors, teachers, and anyone who believes Shakespeare should be alive, immediate, and unforgettable. It challenges old assumptions, overturns stale conventions, and proves that Shakespeare - done right - still electrifies audiences today.This is Shakespeare as it was meant to be - bloody, immediate, and spectacular.Want to make Shakespeare that audiences actually love? This book shows you how. Read more