Stoke-on-Trent city centre set to come alive with creativity at The Big Feast 2025

A free outdoor arts festival for all ages is set to light up Stoke-on-Trent for two days this month, with world-class acts performing at 14 locations across the city centre (Hanley). 

Performers from the worlds of music, puppetry, circus and dance will take to the streets for The Big Feast, back for an eleventh year. 

The free event – which is organised by Appetite in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), Smithfield and Stoke-on-Trent City Council - will take place from 11am to 5pm on Friday 22 August and Saturday 23 August. 

Performances will take place at 14 locations across the city centre including the Potteries Centre, Piccadilly, Bethesda Chapel, the bus station, the old town hall and Smithfield. Audiences can download a brochure, pick one up from a volunteer on the day, or simply stumble across performances throughout Hanley. 

The Big Feast is co-curated by local people with Appetite’s Community Decision Makers and Supper Club members helping to shape the programme throughout the whole year in the lead up to the Big Feast weekend. They choose from a menu of options with the aim of bringing the best of outdoor arts to Stoke-on-Trent. 

2025 highlights include:

• Ancient Giants by Inspirate – an epic battle of Gods and Demons from ancient South Asian tales, imagined through giant puppetry, dance and martial arts
• Now I Am Become d/Deaf (Destroyer of Words) by Tit for Tat Circus – a visually rich exploration of hearing loss and identity through clowning and movement
• Big Fatt Dance Party by Fatt Projects – a riotous drag-fuelled dance extravaganza
• Big Mob by Bedlam Oz – three giant slinkies bring lively fun and light-hearted audience interaction
• Fish Boy by 2Faced Dance – a moving outdoor dance adventure celebrating friendship and environmental action
• See Saw by Reallynice – a sensory circus experience specially crafted for young people with SEND

Appetite is inviting everyone to join in to create an origami model city of the six towns in The Potteries Centre, make a dream pillow filled with aromatic herbs in Bethesda Chapel, and take flight on a swing with a virtual reality headset in Smithfield. Families can also try their hand at circus skills, among other free activities for all ages throughout the weekend.

Appetite Director Rachel Adams said: “At Appetite, we believe everyone should have access to creativity and culture. That’s why The Big Feast is free, welcoming and bursting with variety – there’s something here for everyone.

“Whether you want to be wowed, uplifted, moved or simply entertained, we hope this year’s programme brings a little more colour and joy to your day. This is YOUR Big Feast, and we’re glad you’re part of it.”

The two-day Big Feast festival is free, and no booking is required. Some performances run on both days, while others are exclusive to Friday or Saturday. Full details are in the detailed programme, made possible this year with support from The Potteries Centre and 6 Towns Radio.

Designed to be inclusive and accessible, performances offer BSL interpretation, audio description, touch tours and dedicated Access stewards to assist on the day. 

For more information about access at The Big Feast, the line-up or artists, and to find out what else is coming up in Appetite’s calendar of events, visit www.appetite.org.uk