Dancers, poets, musicians and artists from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire will showcase their talents at an upcoming outdoor arts festival.

Organised by Appetite, The Big Feast will return to Hanley on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August, bringing together local performers and internationally acclaimed artists.

During the event, performances and activities will take place at venues across the 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.

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."

Among the local performers are Stoke-on-Trent-based inclusive arts organisation FRONTLINEdance, who will bring interactive performances featuring disabled and neurodivergent community dancers.

· A place where we belong & The Explorers in Training by FRONTLINEdance (image via Appetite)

Stoke-on-Trent Poet Laureate Steven K. Beattie and Young Poet Laureate Cameron Hart will also be performing a 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.

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Stoke-born singer-songwriter Heidi - who has earned support from BBC Introducing- will perform alongside Liam Hulmes, with live looping performances.

The Piccadilly Stage will also be hosted by locals with comedian and NHS doctor Henry Michael on Friday, and Stoke-on-Trent based Circus In A Box's Eve Elle on Saturday.

Staffordshire's dDeaflinks' Silent Choir, will also perform at the festival, with d/Deaf performers bringing 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.

The Big Feast is supported by 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.

The festival has also received support from 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).

The full programme – as well as access arrangements such as BSL interpretation and audio-described performances – will be announced on the website here.