New Zealanders will be able to continue their love affair with Shakespeare this summer, with the return of the Pop-Up Globe theatre.
Last season more than 100,000 tickets were sold and this year, an extra 24 shows are already planned.
Pop-Up makes it sound instant, and easy, but in reality it takes a team of 150 to assemble the theatre.
"It's amazing for our team to see this work commence and we're ever amazed by the speed at which the building is constructed," artistic director Myles Gregory says.
This season's Globe has been given a complete re-design and will include all details of the original London theatre, right up to the cannon on the roof.
"There are so many changes from Pop-Up Globe last year - the new stage front, the beautiful three-storey stage front, the ceiling over the stage, the special effects we'll be using," Mr Gregory says.
"Those are changes that, in the rehearsal room, make a big difference."
Organisers twice had to extend the first season of the Pop-Up Globe due to its popularity, and they're expecting this year's shows to be even more popular.
"The ticket sales are significantly up on last year so I think it's going to be a sell out again," Mr Gregory says.
There's just over a month before curtains up, but project manager David Rutland is confident he'll make it.
"We're on schedule at the moment, there's always things that pop up with bits and pieces, but we've got a team that's really well integrated," he says.
Shakespeare's work is clearly resonating with Kiwis and Mr Gregory says that's down to one thing.
"Shakespeare is just a really really good writer. Maybe one of the best ever writers."
But don't expect that writing to change for Kiwi audiences - the scripts will be shorter, but Mr Gregory says there'll be no dumbing down of Shakespeare's words.
Newshub.
