Your Christmas in Stoke-on Trent officially starts on Thursday 17 November with a host of lively street theatre in the City Centre (Hanley) from 4pm-8pm, brought to you by Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID in partnership with Appetite.

FEATURING

• Christmas Tree
• Free Victorian themed attractions, interactive theatre and roaming performers

PLUS

• The popular continental market on Market Square
• Artisan market on Fountain Square
• Fairground rides

The Potteries Centre will be joining the fun with some Christmas Selfie rooms themed for festive photo opportunities, a shining reindeer and late shopping.

ACCESS

All performances will be family friendly and accessible for wheelchair users. We have additional access support on certain performances including audio description (AD) and British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation. For more information you can:

• See the listings below
• View and print our flyer 
• Head over to our Victorian Christmas access page, which includes a social story, trigger warning,  facilities information and some performance previews
• Talk to the Appetite team and volunteers on the evening at the Appetite HQ gazebo on Tontine Square

Still want to know more about what’s in store? We’ve got you covered.

Watch the Birdie! | An old-fashioned photographer with a large format Kodak Camera from 1908 playfully poses people for portraits on a ‘Paper Moon’. A magical alchemical darkroom prints picture perfect moments for keepsakes.

Tontine Square  |  4.00-8.00pm (sighted guidance and BSL interpretation on request)

Penny Arcadia’s Barrel Organ | Enjoy toe-tapping tunes from Penny Arcadia’s Victorian Barrel Organ and be exported to a bygone era.

Tontine Square  |  4.00-4.30pm  |  6.00-6.30 (BSL)*  |  7.30-8.00pm

Dodge | Fagin and Dodge take to the streets in this Dickensian Christmas walkabout. They’re a charming, if touch theatrical, duo. And did we mention that one of them is nine feet tall?

Walkabout  |  4.00-4.30pm  |  7.15-7.45pm

Van Buren’s Victorian Theatre of Wonders | Andrew and Allyson present the unique, fun and baffling show for all the family, which not only entertains but also answers many of the questions about Victoriana, magic and illusion: Can somebody float in mid-air? Will Van Buren escape from Houdini’s Challenge? And is it possible to step back in time or read a mind? This show answers all of these questions, plus many more!

Tontine Square  |  4.30-5 .00pm |  6.30-7.00pm (BSL & AD)*

Corvus Angelicus | These 10-foot-tall luminous angels spread love and light, joy and hope, wherever they go. A breathtakingly beautiful performance that uplifts the spirit and feeds the soul.

Walkabout  |  5.00-5.30pm  |  7.30-8.00pm (AD)*

Professor Jon’s Flea Circus | Professor Jon’s Flea Circus is itching to perform for YOU! Marvel at stars of the Flea world: Bella the Weightlifting Flea, Madame ZaZa on the tightrope, Frederico the Flea Cannonball and many more, all trained from scratch! *No real fleas are harmed during this presentation!*

Tontine Square  |  5.10-5.30pm (BSL & AD)*  |  7.00-7.20pm

Lampshade Ladies | The Lampshade Ladies bring their surroundings to life, fascinating and enchanting audiences wherever they go. Taking inspiration from all things retro and wonderfully absurd, Kitsch & Sync Collective brings you curiously quirky dance, theatre and performance brimming with colourful characters and a dressing-up box bursting with enough vintage clobber to make your gran proud!

Walkabout  |  5.30-6.00pm  |  7.00-7.30pm

A Very Curious Contrivance | The Curious Contrivance, AKA The Flatulator, trundles along with its wings flapping, pistons pumping and the inevitable sounds of gas propulsion. Chocks away! Brought to you by the uniquely bonkers one-man comedy theatre Circus Fudge.

Rideabout  |  6.00-6.30pm  |  7.30-8.00pm

Town Hall Choir with Restoke | Restoke puts the people of Stoke-on-Trent at the heart of their creative adventures, creating unmissable performances in unusual settings. The Town Hall Choir meet every Wednesday, singing polyphonic songs from eastern Europe and Georgia. They will be sharing a selection of Wintersongs from these regions on this special evening.

Fountain Square  |  6.30-6.40pm  |  7.00-7.10pm

*Please note that the access symbols are to the right of the individual performance time that the service is available for rather than every time that precedes them.

Check out our social media pages for more details in the run up to the event. Don’t already follow us on socials? Here’s where to find us:

Facebook: @appetite.stoke  |  Instagram: @appetite_stoke  |  Twitter: @appetitestoke