Stopgap Dance Company brings RO-TES, a joyful celebration inspired by choreographer Nadenh Poan’s Cambodian heritage, while Highly Sprung Performance presents Accelerate, an ambitious physical theatre production exploring climate change, energy and resilience through aerial performance, movement and striking visual imagery.

Families can enjoy the award-winning LAStheatre’s Caspian’s Storm, following the adventures of a curious little crab in an interactive musical celebrating our connection with the environment, while Drag Queen Story Hour UK will bring inclusive family fun to Drop City Books in Piccadilly.

Elsewhere, audiences can become part of the action with O’Driscoll Collective’s immersive dance-theatre adventure Something OUTTA Nothing, The Losers Arcade’s hilarious inflatable obstacle races, hip-hop theatre from CompanyDHW, vintage vocal harmony from The Daisy Belles and Radical Ritual’s thoughtful Tender Exchange, an invitation to pause, listen and connect with others.

Roaming entertainment will fill the streets throughout the weekend, with Apus Productions’ mischievous patchwork animals, the infectious brass sounds of The Stray Horns, the eccentric musical creations of Rimski & Handkerchief, Kitsch & Sync Collective’s surreal characters and the dazzling skills of Sign Spinning UK ensuring there is always something unexpected around the next corner.

The new Sensasian zone at Smithfield will celebrate South Asian arts and culture on the Saturday, with internationally renowned storyteller Peter Chand, classical dance-theatre from Nandita Devika Shankardass, high-energy tabla from South Asian Arts-uk, Indian block printing workshops with Hello Tinka and Bollywood dance with Indian Fusion.

Sonia Sabri Company’s colourful The Elephant & The Drummer will combine live music, dance and storytelling in a heartwarming tale about friendship, confidence and belonging, with audiences able to make their own elephant lollipop puppet.

Emily Labhart, Appetite Director, said: “The Big Feast is all about transforming familiar spaces into places of wonder, creativity and connection. The programme brings together artists whose work is playful, spectacular, moving and thought-provoking.

“Whether you’re watching breathtaking outdoor dance, joining an interactive adventure, following a roaming brass band through the streets or simply soaking up the atmosphere, we hope everyone leaves having experienced something unforgettable.”

Shaped by community decision-makers from across Stoke-on-Trent, the Big Feast is produced by Appetite and is one of the region’s flagship outdoor arts festivals, bringing world-class performance to the heart of Stoke-on-Trent while remaining completely free to attend.

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, 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).