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The Macclesfield Barnaby Festival is well and truly back where it belongs with more than 70 events planned for June.

The 13th century festival – which was revived by a team of Maxonians last year – will include performances, exhibitions and a whole host of activities to suit just about every taste, and takes place over the weekend of June 17 – 19.

The tribute to French songstress Edith Piaf – Piaf: The Songs – is high on the list of must-attend events, with a dramatic musical performance of hits such as La Vie en Rose and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by the talented Eve Loiseau.

The performance takes place at the Assembly Rooms, Town Hall, on Sunday, June 19, from 8pm until 10pm. Tickets cost £15.

On Friday, June 17, from 8.30pm until 10pm, the Stan Tracey Trio will perform at the United Reformed Church on Park Green.

Veteran jazz pianist Stan Tracey – known as the Godfather of British Jazz – is joined by his son Clark Tracey on drums and Andy Clyndert on double bass.
Tickets cost £15 and £10 for children.

Comedy fans should head to the Assembly Rooms at the Town Hall for Comedy Club Live on Friday, June 17.

Macclesfield comedian Roland Gent introduces Bill Wooland, Marvin Cheeseman and English Comedian of the Year finalist Ben Davids.

The comedy night starts at 8.30pm, tickets cost £10.

BBC RADIO 4s Any Questions? will be broadcast live from Barnaby on Friday, June 17.

The news and current affairs programme, hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, will be recorded from St Michael and All Angels Church in the Market Place as part of the festival’s opening night celebrations.

He will be joined by a panel of guests from the world of politics, media and business with a unique opportunity for Maxonians to pose questions about the controversial issues of the day.

Tickets are free.

For a full list of events pick up a brochure from Macclesfield Library, Macclesfield Tourist Information or the Snow Goose Bar.

Tickets are available online at barnabyfestival.org.uk, from Fraser’s Travel on Church Street or Tourist Information.


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Haunting night of opera

Macclesfield’S oldest pub is the centre of a fantastic new opera written exclusively for the forthcoming Barnaby Festival.

‘The Bate Hall Ghost’ tells the haunting tale based around the 16th century pub’s resident ghost, who turns out to be a prostitute accused of witchcraft by the local priest.

Nicholas Smith, writer and conductor, who wrote last year’s hit opera ‘The Monkey Run’, said: “Some years ago the Manchester Paranormal Society say they witnessed a ghost at the Bate Hall on Chestergate in Macclesfield and I’ve used that story as inspiration for what I hope will be a hugely entertaining and enjoyable opera.”

The opera will be performed by Macclesfield-based Silk Opera Company in the town’s spectacular Christ Church.

Performances take place on Friday, June 17, at 9.30pm, and Sunday, June 19, at 6pm. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £5 for children.