Macclesfield’s biggest ever family theatre show – The Astronomer’s Story

This year’s Barnaby Festival will give Macclesfield its biggest ever theatre performance, and a world premiere; The Astronomer’s Story is set to attract an audience of thousands including many families and children – and you could win tickets.

A total of 2,000 people will fill Macclesfield’s Christ Church on 18^th and 19^th June, when it will be transformed into the secret laboratory of a mysterious astronomer, who discovers the secret of bringing the moon and stars down from the heavens. In doing so he fills Macclesfield with starlight but also puts the town in great peril.

The “spellbinding” 45 minute family theatrical adventure has performances at 10am, 11.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm, 5pm and 6.30pm on both dates and is suitable for children aged 4+. A limited number of early bird tickets for local residents are £6 with babes in arms free. Children who go to the show will be given a mission – and become an Astronomer’s assistant.

Specifically designed for Christ Church, one of Macclesfield’s most important historical buildings, The Astronomer’s Story is the work of award winning Macclesfield-based Wild Rumpus, in collaboration with London-based LAS Theatre. The theatre performance is the centrepiece of La Lune, commissioned by Barnaby as an interactive family experience running through the festival. Wild Rumpus is also known for The Lost Carnival and Just So Festival.

Karl Wallace, festival director of Barnaby, said, “I’d urge all family festival-goers to come and see The Astronomer’s Story; it’s going to be a completely unique and unforgettable experience at the centre of Barnaby 2016 – not to be missed.

“La Lune is Barnaby’s biggest and first ever performance commission with a rich mix of free activities at Christ Church too. It shows just how far Barnaby has come since it started in 2010 and is a great example of how we’re putting Macclesfield’s disused and historic buildings to use hosting unique events.”

Rowan Hoban, Wild Rumpus, said, “The moon and stars will soon be coming to Macclesfield and the town will be filled with starlight. But who is our mysterious astronomer and why can’t he send the stars back to where they came from? He’s put Macclesfield in peril and needs all of the town’s families to help him. Will you help the astronomer save the town?”

ilovemacc has three pairs of tickets for one of the Barnaby Festival’s highlight – The Astronomer’s Story.

The spellbinding story of La Lune unfolds in the town of Macclesfield throughout Barnaby Festival 2016.

At the centre of the curious happenings is the remarkable family show: The Astronomer’s Story (Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 June). With puppetry, spectacle, theatre and surprises, audiences will experience the incredible tale of an eccentric astronomer who has bought the moon and the stars down to earth in this adventure – set in the atmospheric interior of Christ Church.

Note: the recommended age for audience members is 4+.

If you would like to enter the competition for free tickets – check out the festival website:

http://barnabyfestival.org.uk

Navigate to ‘The Astronomer’s Story’ and somewhere within you’ll find the name of – the astronomer.

Then travel to ‘The Observatory’ and find the name of ‘the glorious eduPOP science band’

Email your entry, with your full name, address and contact phone number – to editor@ilovemacc.com – to reach us before 15th June 2016.

Then, who knows, if you’re lucky, a pair of tickets could be winging their way to you.