A big thank you to Jo Bell who was wielding her camera at the last Treacle Market. Have a look.

Christmas Treacle Market.wmv

www.youtube.com

A genuinely festive atmosphere and we actually felt Christmassy! Darned cold mind you... Great music from Annies Saints and Sinners, Hot Vestry, Phil Maddox, Rockschool singers and more.

Get your crisp new diary out and make a note that the next Treacle Market is Sunday 30 January. It will be food and drink only in the Market Place. Antiques, arts and crafts will be back for February don't worry.

In the meantime we wish you a rewarding and creative New Year from the loop.

Image Yvonne Philipps. Thanks Yvonne.

now booking

Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves

From 17 to 22 January , Macclesfield Majestic Theatre Group present at MADS Theatre, Lord Street, Macclesfield, their annual pantomime, “Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves”.

The story tells of a Prince destined to marry a Princess he has never met; a Princess desperate to marry; An overpowering Mother who expects her Daughter (Elly) to do everything for her. Ali Baba the poor hopeless romantic, who tries his hardest to ensure his best friend (Elly) is happy and would do anything for!

After the princess is robbed, by the 40 thieves, Ali goes on a mission to find the stolen treasure and claim the reward, so that his beloved Elly can have the riches she deserves, and marry the man she loves.

A comedic plot of good against bad, with twists and turns, revealing characters who are not who they seem to be!

Tickets are selling fast, but are available online at www.mmtg.co.uk or by phone on 07875 149943 or on the night at the box office. Performances start at 7.15pm each night with a matinee at 2pm on the Saturday.

A couple of words from Jo Bell:
' A request for a tiny Christmas favour (a matter of two clicks and a poem choice) - and the offer of a tiny poetic opportunity.'

First the favour: The man who thought up National Poetry Day, William Sieghart, is working to get poetry built into the Olympic Park for 2012. Whether you love or hate sport, and even if you are planning to leave the country for the great Olympic extravaganza, this is a great opportunity to get the best British poetry right in front of the world's media. So please visit Winning Words and nominate the poem you'd like to see built into the structure of the park. Pass on this request if you can via email, word of mouth or attending the event on Facebook.

Now the opportunity: BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live is looking for a member of the public for whom a poem has given inspiration at a very difficult, life changing or challenging moment and who would be happy to talk about it for the New Year’s Day show in relation to Winning Words. Can you think of anyone you know who might have such a story and be willing to share it? Please contact chris@colmangetty.co.uk (not me!) before 24 December.

Photo: Yvonne Philipps.
Thankyou Yvonne.
Please keep sending your pictures.

cinema: Cinemac

Cinemac Heritage Centre Roe Street Macclesfield SK11 6UT Recorded Information: 01625 423535 Enquiries: 07871 422937 All tickets on Sundays & Mondays: 3.20

Mon 20: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30, 8.00
Tues 21: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00, 5.30, 8.00
Weds 22: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00, 5.30, 8.00
Thurs 23: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00, 5.30, 8.00

Fri 24: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00
Sat 25: cinema closed: Merry Christmas
Sun 26: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00
Sun 26: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Mon 27: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Mon 27: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Tues 28: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Tues 28: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Weds 29: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Weds 29: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Thurs 30: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Thurs 30: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30

Fri 31: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00

It's the last shopping weekend before Christmas and all is calm...

YES! Forget the last minute gift frenzy and just head for the Treacle Market. With vintage goodies, handmade gifts and all things unique, everything you could ever want will be delightfully to hand. Shop Treacle on Saturday in the Market Place, the Butter Market and by the Ice Rink from 10am-3.30pm. Returning at 5-9pm to shop, play out and eat - forget cooking at home and indulge festive market style. There's brilliant live music and carols too.

There's also Sunday Treacle from 10am-3pm in the Market Place and along Chestergate with all the usual finest of foods, drinks and fabulous gifts (yes, a new location and no more hills to walk!)

Oh and we just have to mention that the Loop's favourite band Butterfly Jam are playing on Saturday night at the Baths Hotel on Green Street. Conveniently at 9pm as Treacle comes to a glorious close. See you there, this brilliant weekend.

Poet in you

A new term for Adult Education Classes at Sandbach School begins on 11 January 2011 and runs until 22 March 2011. It takes place on Tuesday evenings, 7– 9pm.

Creative Writing – Find the poet in you. Writing and understanding poetry.

01270 767322. Website: www.sandbachschool.cheshire.sch.uk

Enrolment is through the school but please feel free to pass to have a chat with John Lindley 01260 273219.

Christmas Concert

KEMS Orchestra and Choir

Conductors: Anthony Houghton

and Ian Chesworth

Our popular concert of Christmas music

for choir and orchestra with carols for

audience participation. The orchestral items include

the overture to Cinderella by Rossini,

the Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock,

Ernest Tomlinson’s Suite of English Folk Dances,

and the delightful set of airs and dances that Delibes wrote for a Victor Hugo play.

Sat 18 December

7.30 pm

St Michael and All Angels Church, Market Place,

Macclesfield

Tickets (£10 adults, £2.50 under 18s) from Margin Music, 3 Market Place; Fraser Travel, 11 Church St.; Cachet Lingerie, 50 Chestergate (all of these are in Macclesfield); or by telephone 01260 252444; or online www.kems.org.uk