Homegrown talent takes centre stage at Appetite’s Big Feast
Dancers, poets, musicians and community artists from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire will showcase their talents at this year’s Big Feast festival. Organised by Appetite, the free outdoor arts festival returns to Stoke-on-Trent city centre (Hanley) on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August, bringing together local performers alongside nationally and internationally acclaimed artists for two days of live entertainment and family fun.
Performances and activities will take place at venues across Hanley city centre, including the Town Hall, Smithfield, Fountain Square, Bethesda Gardens, Albion Square, Parliament Square and Row, Lower Piccadilly, the Potteries Centre, the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Drop City Books and Hanley Bus Station.
Among the local highlights is Stoke-on-Trent-based inclusive arts organisation FRONTLINEdance, returning by popular demand with A Place Where We Belong and The Explorers in Training. Featuring disabled and neurodivergent community dancers, the interactive performances celebrate belonging, joy and adventure while inviting audiences to take part.
Stoke-on-Trent Poet Laureate Steven K. Beattie and Young Poet Laureate Cameron Hart will perform an energetic spoken word set exploring identity, humour and community, while Staffordshire Poet Laureate Scarlett Ward and Young Poet Laureate Pearl Knight-Dutton will share works inspired by the human experience. Music lovers can enjoy performances from Stoke-born singer-songwriter Heidi, whose haunting vocals and thoughtful lyrics have earned support from BBC Introducing, alongside Liam Hulmes, whose high-energy live looping performances blend acoustic music, hip hop rhythms and crowd interaction.
Local comedian and NHS doctor Henry Michael, and Stoke-on-Trent based Circus In A Box’s Eve Elle, will host the Piccadilly Stage on Friday and Saturday respectively. Visitors can also experience the moving performance of Staffordshire’s dDeaflinks’ Silent Choir, where d/Deaf performers bring music to life through British Sign Language, while Tam-Tam Club will showcase energetic West African drumming.
The Saturday-only Sensasian zone will feature Dharshanodiyaa School of Bharatanatyam with a vibrant classical dance-Bollywood fusion, classical dance performances by Priya Sundar and her students, and free hand-drawn natural henna tattoos from Henna by Cherrie.
Emily Labhart, Appetite Director, said:
“As well as bringing world-class artists to Stoke-on- Trent, Appetite is proud to showcase so many brilliant local performers at The Big Feast. This festival belongs to the city, and it means a lot that audiences can discover so much
outstanding talent from their own communities while enjoying everything that makes The Big Feast such a special event.”
Shaped by community decision-makers from across Stoke-on-Trent, the Big Feast is produced by Appetite and transforms Hanley city centre into a vibrant outdoor stage over the August bank holiday weekend, offering free performances, workshops and experiences for people of all ages.
The full programme – as well as access arrangements such as BSL interpretation and audio-described performances – will be announced at appetite.org.uk
The Big Feast is made possible thanks to event partner Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID and event sponsors Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Smithfield Stoke-on-Trent, The Town Hall, Drop City Books and The Potteries Centre, as well as core programme funders Arts Council England, Appetite’s lead organisation New Vic Theatre and the consortium board University of Staffordshire, 6 Towns Radio, Keele University and Partners in Creative Learning (PiCL).
