WITH the onset of night and with the birds twittering their final song of twilight, a murder most foul is being enacted for around the millionth time in over 500 years at Royden Park in Wirral and rarely have the actions of Macbeth been better demonstrated.

In short, The Hillbark Players' 2009 production of Macbeth is an absolute joy and I urge you to see it for yourselves.

The costumes are superbly authentic right down to the silver beads on the handles of the dirks and broaches holding together the kilts.

The stage set, though simple, is highly effective thanks to some wonderful use of pyrotechnics – with the highlight being an ingenious employment of such during the "cauldron" scene – and the acting is, for the most part, from an incredibly large cast, exemplary.

Stand out performances, as might be expected, come from those in the guise of Mr and Mrs Mac, here performed by Charles Riley, who manages scowling rage, duplicitous nice guy and tormented agony brilliantly, and Pauline Garland whose every mannerism is etched deep with the self-serving cold-heartedness demanded of her character and whose delivery is faultless.

Another important fact is that despite the cast declining to use microphones, not a single word is lost to the audience as is the case in so many outdoor productions, and this should act as a template for many a larger company who attempt to take Shakespeare al fresco in future.

"By the pricking of my thumbs" to paraphrase the great Bard, "something exceptional this way comes" and for all those involved in this production of "The Scottish Play", there should be a tremendous sense of achievement because, without doubt, The Hillbark Players have managed to pull off something that can rank with a great many larger company’s efforts with style and aplomb.

The Hillbark Players' production of Macbeth in Royden Park, Frankby can be seen until this Saturday, June 27, 8pm start.