Welcome to the Hillbark Players website
"Bringing open-air Shakespeare to the Wirral"

hit tracker Thank you for visiting - website last updated 26th August 2023

HILLBARK PLAYERS 2023 PRODUCTION OF 'jULIUS cAESAR' is now over - we hope you managed to see it - onward to 2025!!!

--------------------------------------

Hillbark Players 2022 production was 'The Tempest'.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To view photographs from Hillbark Players sensational 2019 production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' click on the poster below and re-live some of the great moments from that production.

In 2015 Hillbark Players were named by the Liverpool Echo on The Wirral Bucket List - one of 75 things to do before you die!!!

45. Watch open air Shakespeare in Royden Park with the Hillbark Players

"Hillbark Players are the longest-established open-air Shakespeare company in the North West and their performances are a summer treat for
Shakespeare lovers"

 

 

 

Who are we?

Hillbark Players is the leading presenter of open-air Shakespeare in the North West. The Company was founded in 1964 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and apart from a short break in the early 1970's, Hillbark Players has presented a production every other year since.

2023 was our 29th major production.

Our major productions are always presented in a traditional way and the best local talent is sought, both to perform and to provide technical support.  A purpose-built 510 seat theatre is created in Royden Park, Frankby - a public park just outside West Kirby on the Wirral. Theatre quality lighting is installed and all seats are under cover - it is only the actors who get wet - occasionally!  

On alternate years we sometimes present a smaller scale revue-style production where the audience need to bring a seat, a picnic and maybe an umbrella.

The most frequently used adjective to describe the full Hillbark experience is 'magical' and in June 2025 we will be delighted to share this magic with you once again.

An aerial view of our arena - taken in June 2019

An aerial view of our arena, showing Hillbark Hotel
            in the background - taken in June 2019

 

Past Productions

2023 - Julius Caesar

2022 - The Tempest

2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

2018 - Shakespeare at War and Peace

2017 - Hamlet

2016 - Shakespeare's Midsummer Madness

2015 - Much Ado About Nothing

2013 - The Merchant of Venice

2012 - From Shakespeare With Love

2011 - The Merry Wives of Windsor

2010 - The Shakespeare Revue

2009 - Macbeth

2007 - As You Like It

2005 - The Taming of the Shrew

2003 - The Comedy of Errors

2001 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

1998 - The Winter's Tale

1996 - Twelfth Night

1994 - Romeo and Juliet

1992 - The Merry Wives of Windsor

1990 - Much Ado About Nothing

1988 - The Tempest

1986 - The Merchant of Venice

1984 - Love's Labours Lost

1982 - As You Like It

1980 - Two Gentlemen of Verona

1978 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

1976 - The Comedy of Errors

1968 - Twelfth Night

1967 - The Merry Wives of Windsor

1966 - The Taming of the Shrew

1965 - Romeo and Juliet

1964 - Much Ado About Nothing

1960 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
- from the forerunners of Hillbark Players

1956 - Henry V
- from the forerunners of Hillbark Players