A lark with the loop: an invitation

An Invitation to a Tuppenny Circus: daring feats of poetic endeavour performed by Ring-mistress Sally Zucchini and Diana the tightrope walker. An evening of ‘intellectual viagra’ to make you laugh, cry and think. Sally and Diana, aka former Cheshire Poet Laureates Jo Bell and Joy Winkler, are taking to the courtyard to offer loop readers a teasing taste of their rapturously received Fourpenny Circus before it heads back out on the road. And other things too.

The poetry is cracking and there is much for the non-poetry audience so bring your friends and join other like-minded loop readers for cultural banter and a glass or two.

Ronnie’s Bar, Duke’s Court, Mill St

Tuesday 9 June.

The performance will begin at 8pm.

Free but booking as ever please, maccloop@googlemail.com or 07981 128454

For more details on the Fourpenny Circus roadshow visit: http://www.fourpennycircus.co.uk/

2 for 1 offer for loop readers

Just perfect for a Summers day outing, a wander round the beautiful grounds at Gawsworth Hall that is. You can take adavtage of an offer specifically for Loop readers:
2 for 1 for the Hall and Grounds (Adult admission £6, children under 16 £3) throughout June during their normal opening hours (not for special events); simply print off this web page to act as a voucher and present it at the gate during June. We are cleverly multi tasking and packing our picnic basket as we type.

Ukes, clowns and tubes

The loop has always fancied dabbling in animation after seeing some truly amazing shorts on You Tube. Definitely worth a look: Stop Motion with Wolf and Pig http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmkLlVzUBn4

Sadly we are too old for the Thursday morning animation course at the Silk Museum. Clowning Around is simple animation for children. 28th May 10-12pm. Booking essential.

Wednesday night is Ukulele night of course. Have a look at the posting below for 5 may 'a word from Roger' for a glimpse of the fun to be had at the Boarhound. For Ukulele inspiration book a ticket for the Open Air theatre at Gawsworth Hall for the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on 2 August before they sell out.

maccukulele@live.co.uk Last Wed of month. Upstairs at the Boarhound.
Gawsworth Hall 01260 223456 www.gawsworthhall.com
01625 612045 Silk Museum, Park Lane info@macclesfield.silk.museum

There are good things happening this week however old you are. Meaning if its half term for you there are plenty of activities for you too.

Jodrell Bank is busy with a children's guided walk around the Arboretum on Wed 27 May at 11.30.This is a family walk to see the blossom and discover some of the legends about trees and plants.There's no extra charge on top of normal admission for this. Tuesday to Friday this week you can ask a Jodrell Bank Astronomer or Engineer all those burning questions you have about the giant telescope: go on give your mother a break and try your tricky inter galactic questions on someone else.

Why not pop into the Silk Museum on Park Lane this week to see the prestigious Diana Springall Collection: An Embroiderer's Eye, which runs until 14th July. And if textiles are your thing then you might want to head to the Heritage Centre on Roe Street on Wednesday for the Traditional Quilting workshop with Margaret Waring. Booking for this is essential. 10am-4pm £25 inc materials.

Jodrell bank: +44 (0)1477 571339 Jodrell.visitor.centre@manchester.ac.uk
Silk Museum Tel: 01625 612045 info@macclesfield.silk.museum

Heritage Centre 01625 612045

Bank Holiday action

Will it rain as it traditionally does for Bank Holidays or will we wake up to sunshine on Saturday morning? The weather forecast inspires confidance and the loop remains resolutely optimistic. Theres plenty going on whatever the weather.Just take an umbrella thats all.
Tonight you can catch the inspiring band Celebrity Chimp in the Bollington Festival Marquee at the earlier than advertised time of 10pm. The Festival continues to present a wonderful eclectic mixture of events: The Wind in the Willows: the musical, and Weekend Breaks by John Godber during the day, whilst Saturday night should be a belter with the Screaming Beavers, again in the marquee. For all these and more link to the Bollington Festival website.

There is Saturday's Craft and Food Fair at Gawsworth (see below), and an Artists and Designers fair at the Pavillion Gardens in Buxton. If unusual plants are your thing Adlington Hall has a Plant Hunters fair on Sunday 24th May. There are Classic cars at Capesthorne (as you know the loop loves an older vehicle) and a brilliant all day Rock Festival at the Moss Rose, also on Sunday. Topping the bill are the Salford Jets plus seven other bands including the hugely popular Virgin Marys and all for £15! There's a real ale bar too.

So whatever the weather throws at us this weekend there's no excuse to be be bored and miserable!

Buxton Pavillion 01298 23114 www.pavilliongardens.co.uk
Gawsworth Hall 01260 223456 www.gawsworthhall.com
Capesthorne Hall Tel: 01484452002 www.classicshows.org
Moss Rose 01625 264686 www.mtfc.co.uk/page/Events/

Gawsworth Hall Craft Fair and Food Show

What an enticing combination, beautiful Gawsworth Hall and its celebration of Crafts and Good Food. No one should ever need an excuse to visit this uniquely lovely ancient manor house (on our doorstep), but if you need a nudge then why not go this bank holiday weekend?
There will be a huge variety of stalls with a wide selection of British Crafts and unusual giftware as well as a speciality Food and Drinks marquee. Plus falconry, archery, chainsaw woodcarving, and a wonderful medieval encampment. See you there.

Sat 23, Sun 24, Mon 25 May 10am-5pm
Admission £3

Gawsworth Hall
Gawsworth
01260 223456
www.gawsworthhall.com

Vision in White

If you have an eye for the visual arts the Bollington Festival has much to offer. There’s a fabulous fish, by Claire de Ruiter, floating in the river by the Recreation Ground; a programme of workshops; and an exhibition by the internationally renowned Guardian photographer Don McPhee who’s work comes north from London to reach a wider audience. Our favourite however, is The Village a photographic exhibition by Jack Lloyd, at the White Gallery.

There is much we can say about this inspirational gallery and the exhibitions it hosts but if you want proof that it really is worth a visit google: thewhitegallery and check out the blog. It is positively overflowing with fine images, ideas and artist profiles.

The Jack Lloyd exhibition runs until 25 May and is ideally followed by a wander in the 3D Sculpture Garden in the garden behind. The White Gallery, no: 13 Wellington Road, is owned and run by photographer Fiona Bailey and open during the festival from Tuesday to Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Tel: 01625 260016.

Cinema: Cinemac

For your delectation this week at Cinemac:

Angels and Demons (12A)
Night at the Museum 2 (12A)

Tickets £4- £5.50
Don't forget cheap tickets on a monday night £3

If you have not yet discovered Cinemac, a most-unconventional and charming cinema, it is featured in the latest issue of the loop (editorial column page 5). Or check out its website: http://www.cinemac.org.uk/ for further information, and listings.
Cinemac
Heritage Centre,
Roe St, Macclesfield.

Thank knit its Monday

The Loop is full of good intentions (mainly) but sometimes doesn't get round to keeping its 'promises to self'. However motivation is at hand and these Monday night knitting sessions might just tease our virgin needles into action. How could they not?

Every Monday evening is ‘Thank Knit It’s Monday’ at Button & Skein. Join them on a Monday night and beat the start of the week blues with some knitting, chatting and socialising. 7.30-9.30pm. This is a free session but please feel free to bring a bottle and some nibbles. Personally we find olives spear very nicely on the end of a needle...

Button & Skein despite their pleasingly retro feel have gone all modern on us (sort of) and, if you are that way inclined, you can now follow what they are up to, and hear about all their news and events first through Button & Skein on Facebook and Button & Skein on Twitter and see their web link.

Button & Skein

17 Church St

Macclesfield

01625 428 608