Welcome to the Hillbark Players website
"Bringing open-air Shakespeare to the Wirral"
*** HILLBARK PLAYERS WILL RETURN IN 2022 ***In September 2020, the Hillbark Players committee selected the play which should follow their production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 2019 and are proud to announce that the play will be William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’, to be directed by Martin Riley, who has already brought us ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ (2015) and ‘Shakespeare in War and Peace’ (2018). Inevitably, the decision has also been taken that in the light of the current health crisis and the associated restrictions, the play will be produced in the summer of 2022, rather than adhering to our usual biennial tradition. We look forward to seeing you in 2022 when we can all meet together and enjoy the Bard’s powerful tale of love, treachery, freedom, magic and redemption. “…O brave new world that has such people in’t.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
|
---|
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.
2019 was our 27th 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 2019 we were delighted to share this magic with you once again.
Keep watching the website for details of future productions.
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
2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2018 - Shakespeare at War and Peace
2016 - Shakespeare's Midsummer Madness
2012 - From Shakespeare With Love
2011 - The Merry Wives of Windsor
2005 - The Taming of the Shrew
2001 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
1992 - The Merry Wives of Windsor
1980 - Two Gentlemen of Verona
1978 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
1967 - The Merry Wives of Windsor
1966 - The Taming of the Shrew
1960 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
- from the forerunners of Hillbark Players