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.

2025 was our 30th 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 520 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 were delighted to share this magic with you once again.