Māori-inspired Pop-up Globe claims 8 Australian theatre awards

New Zealand's Pop-up Globe theatre has beat the likes of the Sydney Opera House to claim eight Australian theatre awards.

It's thanks to its production of A Midsummer Night's Dream featuring te reo Māori speaking fairies.

The crew behind the Pop-up Globe couldn't be more excited that they've won the awards.

"We beat the Sydney Opera House!" said founder and artistic director Dr Miles Gregory.

The Pop-up Globe is famous for its versions of William Shakespeare's classic plays. But it's New Zealand's version of a Midsummer Night's Dream that's amazed Aussie audiences.

The production hasn't been without controversy, however. Around this time last year, some punters said it wasn't appropriate to use a language that many audience members couldn't understand.

But most have fallen in love with it.

"About 20 percent of the play is in te reo Māori. It's a brilliant production that we're very proud of that showcases New Zealand," Dr Gregory said.

He believes theatre is about having fun.

"It's about exploration, about opening your mind to new things."

Seven of the eight awards were for a Midsummer Night's Dream, but The Merchant of Venice has also been honoured for its work.

A Pop-up Globe in Sydney - a replica of the one in Auckland - sold more than 100,000 tickets to the productions.

"It's really surprising for a New Zealand company to go to Sydney and on their home ground to take away almost all, a clean sweep really of all the awards," Dr Gregory said.

"We're just really, really proud."

If you want to check it out, the Auckland Pop-up is located at the Ellerslie Race Course with this season's performances continuing until the end of March.

Newshub.