WILD by Motionhouse
Appetite Presents
THE BIG FEAST 2026
Fri 28 & Sat 29 August
WHAT’S ON
As always we’ve worked with our community decision makers to cook up something special with a healthy serving of brand-new acts you’ve never seen before, but that we know you’ll love. Whether you enjoy exceptional spectacle in physical theatre, circus and dance, like to cheer on emerging young creatives, or are simply looking for some free family fun, The Big Feast 2026 is where you need to be on August bank holiday weekend!
Dive straight in below to discover your must-see performances! Or jump straight to listings for Activities, Piccadilly Stage Friday, Piccadilly Stage Saturday and the Saturday Sensasian Zone.
A-Z
ACCELERATE
SATURDAY
Aerial & conveyor belt performance exploring climate change.
CALAMITY DAMES
FRIDAY
Buckle up for these horse-ridin’, gun-slingin’, whip-crackin’ gals calling the shots. Yeehah!
CASPIAN’S STORM
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Quirky, fast-paced, musical about a tiny crab goes on a BIG adventure!
BHARATANATYAM
SENSASIAN
Storytelling through this traditional dance performance with stunning costumes.
DEARLY BEHEADED
SATURDAY
What happens when you fall in love and lose your head?
DHAMAKA
SENSASIAN
Powerful and explosive tabla ensemble that will leave you energised.
DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR
FRIDAY
Where stories come to life!
GO GRANDAD, GO!
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Hip-Hop theatre dance show telling a family love story.
RO-TES-រទេះ
SATURDAY
A celebration of where we come from, how we move through the world, and who we travel with.
ROOTS TO RISE
SENSASIAN
Dance journey of three women as they reconnect with ancestral wisdom and celebrate the future.
SIGN SPINNING
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
If you find yourself wondering where to go next, ask a Sign Spinner.
SOMETHING OUTTA NOTHING
SATURDAY
Playful theatre adventure combining Breakin’ with immersive audio storytelling.
TENDER EXCHANGE
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
A living folk experience inviting you to pause and share what’s in your heart.
THE ANIMALS
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
A moving, musical menagerie of charming patchwork animals.
THE BICYCLE PIANO & DOUBLE BASSICLE
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
A magnificent dance on wheels from a musical clown duo.
STORYTELLING WITH PETER CHAND
SATURDAY & SENSASIAN
Globe-trotting traditional tales from a Master Storyteller.
THE DAISY BELLES
FRIDAY
Female three-part harmony group singing songs with a vintage twist.
THE ELEPHANT & THE DRUMMER
SATURDAY & SENSASIAN
Three larger-than-life characters bursting with colour, live music, energy and joy.
THE INFLATABLE, REMOTE-CONTROLLED BLINDFOLD OBSTACLE CHALLENGE GAME
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Absurd, inflatable obstacle race for all ages and degrees of silliness.
THE STRAY HORNS
FRIDAY
Wind-powered. Crowd-approved.
WILD
FRIDAY
Gravity-defying dance-circus exploring our relationship with the natural world.
PICCADILLY STAGE
FRIDAY | 12:00 - 17:00 | Hosted by Henry Michael
Friday includes lots of music including vintage songstresses The Daisy Belles, local vocals from Heidi and Liam Hulmes, plus brass bangers to get the crowd going with The Stray Horns. Staffordshire Poets Laureate Scarlett Ward and Pearl Knight-Dutton are on the bill with spoken works on a range of topics from nature to identity and how to protect what matters. Dharshanodiyaa School of Dance are bringing another spectacular set packed with a vibrant fusion of traditional and modern Indian dance.
SATURDAY | 12:00 - 17:00 | Hosted by Eve Elle
Saturday features our very first Young Creatives Takeover of Piccadilly Stage! Plus Stoke-on-Trent Poets Laureate Steven K. Beattie and Cameron Hart will be inviting you to listen and connect, and local community group TAM-TAM Club are bringing the boogie with West African drumming. Joyful and thought-provoking dance comes from Big Feast best friends FRONTLINEdance showcasing a new performance about belonging, and Mother Tong, exploring how a Deaf mother passes visual language to her hearing child.
ACTIVITIES
BREAKIN’ FOUNDATIONS WORKSHOP
SATURDAY | 13:30 - 14:15
Age 6+ | Drop-in | FREE
An invitation to young people and families who were inspired by Something OUTTA Nothing to learn the key fundamentals of breakin’ (specifically bboying and bgirling) and other hip hop styles - whilst having fun!
INDIAN WOOD BLOCK PRINTING
SENSASIAN | 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00
Age 5+ | Bookable & walk up* | FREE
Create your own cotton tote bag at this fun Indian block printing session.
*Capacity is limited so booking in advanceis advised.
FOOD FOR ALL
SENSASIAN | 12:00 - 14:00
For everybody | Drop-in | FREE
Food for All is a volunteer-led initiative from the IKCSON Stoke Hare Krishna Centre, providing freshly prepared vegetarian meals for all.
Food will be served from 12 to 2pm - or until it runs out!
PUPPET MAKING WORKSHOP
SENSASIAN | 12:00 - 15:00
For everybody | Drop-in | FREE
Did you fall in love with Elnaz the elephant who longs to dance in The Elephant and The Drummer? Then join in making your own lollipop stick version of her to take home and dance with as much as you like!
HENNA BY CHERRIE
SENSASIAN | 12:00 - 17:00
For everybody | Drop-in | FREE
Get a gorgeous hand-drawn natural temporary henna tattoo.
We expect this to be a popular activity so queues are likely.
BOLLYWOOD AND BHANGRA DANCE WORKSHOP
SENSASIAN | 14:30 & 15:30 | 20 mins
For everybody | Drop-in | FREE
Bollywood fun and energetic moves of Bhangra with Harji and Indian Fusion.
ROOTS TO RISE DANCE WORKSHOP
SENSASIAN | 15:45 | 45 mins
For everybody | No booking required | FREE
Discover how dance can encourage you to connect, create, and bloom just like the characters in Roots to Rise!
Open to all ages and abilities, and you are welcome to participate at your own pace.