With 14 deaths, brutal rape scenes, mutilation and cannibalism, Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus has never been one for the fainthearted. 
 
 But the gruesome scenes at the Globe Theatre’s latest revival have proved too much for even the most daring of theatre-goers. 
 
 Members of the audience have been fainting during the play’s most violent scenes, with others reporting feeling sick and warning of sleepless nights. 
 
 The play, a revival of Lucy Bailey’s 2006 production, is publicised with a warning that it is “grotesquely violent and daringly experimental”, with a “terrible cycle of mutilation, rape and murder”. 
 
 The play’s most famous scene sees Titus murder the sons of his rival Tamora, Queen of the Goths, later feeding their remains to her in a pie. 
 
 A spokesman for the Globe confirmed five members of the audience fainted in a particularly gory five-minute scene, adding front of house staff are "very well trained to look after people". 
 
 It is understood all five fell while watching Lavinia emerge from being brutally raped, with her tongue cut out and holding bloodied stumps for arms. 
 
 "Shakespeare definitely didn’t pull any punches when he was writing Titus – it is a brutally violent play and Lucy’s production is a bloody, exhilarating, incense-laden feast for the senses," the spokesman added. "But not one for the squeamish!" 
 
 <noframe>Twitter: Helen Chandler - Two people fainted at this evening's performance of Titus Andronicus at The Globe. Best value entertainment in London by a bloody mile.</noframe> 
 
 <noframe>Twitter: Laura Hutchinson - Definitely feeling a few violent dreams coming on after watching the bloodbath that is Titus Andronicus <a href="http://www.twitter.com/The_Globe" target="_blank">@The_Globe</a> this evening....</noframe> 
 
 One theatre-goer, who watched the show’s opening night, said there had been “quite a few droppers” in the audience, who fainted upon seeing so much blood. 
 
 Another reported he had “almost puked” by the interval, while a third warned: “You will definitely need a strong stomach”. 
 
 Others praised the “Brilliantly staged and flawlessly acted” production, but warned of “blood and violence galore”. 
 
 “Can't fall asleep after watching a great but gory performance of Titus Andronicus,” one ticket-holder wrote on Twitter. 
 
 Sources at Shakespeare’s Globe confirmed trained first aiders were present for the show. 
 
 The theatre is well-versed in fainting audience members, after visitors blanched at the blood and gore in the original 2006 production. 
 
 <noframe>Twitter: Steve Slack - Titus Andronicus at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/The_Globe" target="_blank">@The_Globe</a> has so much blood there have been quite a few &lsquo;droppers&rsquo;* this evening. * official Globe terminology</noframe> 
 
 A review by Telegraph theatre critic Charles Spencer at the time called it “shatteringly powerful and inventive”, capturing a mixture of “violence and sick humour” in a show suitable for “those with strong stomachs”. 
 
 The 2014 revival stars William Houston as Titus and Indira Varma as Tamora, and is billed as "another chance to see one of the darkest and most seminal productions in the Globe’s history". 
 
 Publicity material states: "Shakespeare’s grisly early tragedy oscillates between pitch-black comedy, terrible violence and moments of the most profound human suffering. 
 
 "The creative team – director Lucy Bailey, designer William Dudley and composer Django Bates – are renowned for their radically inventive approaches and collective fondness for blood and gore." 
 
 COMMENT: 'Titus Andronicus didn't make me faint, but shiver' 

 Five members of the audience at a performance of Shakespeare's bloodiest play, Titus Andronicus at The Globe fainted at the gruesome scenes 
 
 With scenes of rape, mutilation, murder and cannibalism the play has earned the reputation of being the Bard's bloodiest tragedy 
 
 As Lavinia ¿ whose tongue and hands are cut off after she is raped ¿ appeared on stage, five people fainted, while others complained of feeling sick and fearing sleepless nights 
 
 The play, a revival of Lucy Bailey's 2006 production, opened the Globe 2014 season with the offer of witnessing 'one of the darkest and most seminal production's in the Globe's history'. 
 
 Audience members were warned in advance that the production would be 'grotesquely violent and daringly experimental'. 
 
 It is described as a ‘terrible cycle of mutilation, rape and murder’. 
 
 In 2006, at the height of summer dozens of people who bought standing tickets are said to have fainted at each show. 
 
 
 
 Actress Flora Spencer-Longhurst who plays Lavinia in the current production, cut a terrifying figure in a bloody gown. 
 
 A Globe spokesman said: ‘We had five people faint during a particularly gory scene. 
 
 
 
 'Fainting isn’t exactly uncommon amongst Globe groundlings [those with £5 standing tickets] so our front-of-house staff are very well trained. 
 
 ‘Shakespeare definitely didn’t pull any punches... it is a brutally violent play and this production is a bloody, exhilarating, incense-laden feast for the senses. But not one for the squeamish.’ 
 
 Miss Spencer-Longhurst, said: 'Despite my character having her tongue ripped out it is the most articulate role I have ever played.' 
 
 The gruesome scenes prov oked a flurry of reviews on Twitter, with audience members sharing their thoughts at the evening's production. 
 
 The play, which stars actress Flora Spencer-Longhurst as Lavinia, is a revival of Lucy Bailey's 2006 production. It opened the Globe 2014 season with the offer of witnessing 'one of the darkest and most seminal production's in the Globe's history' Samuel Edward-Cook, Indira Varma and Brian Martin as Rape Revenge and Murder with William Houston as Titus Andronicus William Houston plays Titus (left and centre right) in the production of the Bard's play currently at The Globe 
 
 
 
 Writer Helen Chandler, tweeted after the performance: 'Two people fainted at this evening's performance of Titus Andronicus at The Globe. Best value entertainment in London by a bloody mile.' 
 
 Another, Laura Hutchison, said: 'Definitely feeling a few violent dreams coming on after watching the bloodbath that is Titus Andronicus @The— Globe this evening ...' 
 
 Hannah Hughes, a photographic assistant living in London, said: 'Titus Andronicus @The—Globe — so much sunlight, SO MUCH BLOOD.' 
 
 Steve Slack, a museum consultant from London, said: 'Titus Andronicus as @The—Globe has so much blood there have been quite a few 'droppers'* this evening. *official Globe terminology.' 
 
 Shakespeare's tragedy is set in the days of the Roman Empire, and tells the story of the Roman general Titus. 
 
 It features a scene where Titus murders the sons of his rival Tamora, Queen of the Goths, before feeding their remains to her in a pie.
– Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus is a gore-fest, and the Globe Theatre isn't pulling any punches in its revival of the play: Audience members have been fainting, as others have reported feeling sick while watching the production or not being able to sleep afterward, the Telegraph reports. The play features rapes, mutilations, cannibalism, and 14 deaths—including the infamous scene in which Titus murders the sons of his rival and then feeds her a pie made with their remains. Five people fainted Tuesday night, the Daily Mail reports, during another particularly awful five-minute scene in which a character is raped and has her tongue and hands cut off. Producers warn that the play is "grotesquely violent and daringly experimental," featuring a "terrible cycle of mutilation, rape, and murder," and first-aid responders are on hand. Theatergoers have reported that a "strong stomach" is needed, with one saying he "almost puked" while watching the show. Dozens also fainted in 2006, when the Lucy Bailey production last ran.