COSTUME design is an important feature of any memorable play . . . which is why the Hillbark Players have secured the services of Charles Metcalfe as costume designer for their June production of Shakespeare's 'Winter's Tale'.

Now retired after 30 years as head of the Department of Fashion and Textiles at the then Liverpool Polytechnic, Mr Metcalfe's other projects have included uniforms for British Airways in 1977, the Liverpool Garden Festival and Liverpool Philharmonic Choir.

Karen Evans, a 2nd-year student at LJMU, has made and embroidered these fabulous crowns and capes for King Leontes and Queen Hermione.

If you want to see more, the Players will be performng in the open air at Royden Park, Frankby, from June 22-27 at 7.45pm nightly, with an extra 3pm matinee on the Saturday.

Tickets are on sale at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion, Heswall Hall and Birkenhaed Library, priced from £6-11. For more details, 'phone 342-6252/5621.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.