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Ancient Giants

by Inspirate

Walk with ancient giants!

Inspired by the ancient South Asian tales she’s heard throughout her childhood, a young girl called Shanti imagines an epic battle between Hanuman the Monkey God and Ravana the Demon King.

This extraordinary encounter is brought to life through an exciting fusion of large scale puppetry, dance and martial arts.

As Shanti imagines this battle taking place, she explores her own strength and courage, and the complex struggle between good, evil, honour and loyalty.

Hanuman and Ravana are majestically depicted in this dynamic pop up performance, an interpretation that’s been inspired by a pivotal moment in the original Ramayana tale, when these two powerful characters meet and face each other.

Join these 10ft puppets as they interact with the audience during a walkabout, and make their way to confront each other in a dramatic finale.

Performances

This performance walks through town from Upper Lichfield St (10) to Fountain Sq (2) See map

Friday

Performances: 12:25 & 15:15

Saturday

Audio Described introduction (10): 11:oo – 11:25*

Touch Tour (10): 11:25 – 11:45*

Performances: 11:45 & 14:45

*Booking accessible sessions

There are 15 spaces available on the audio described pre-listen and touch tour. You only need one ticket to attend both. Follow the booking link to reserve your spot.

For any queries or to cancel your reservation, contact us on askus@appetite.org.uk

Photos © Anna Hornby and Lamar Francois

More from this artist

Web inspirate.org

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Instagram @inspirateuk

Funded and supported by Arts Council England and Without Walls

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Take a nature walk along the canal at Kidsgrove

Kidsgrove Canal Nature Recovery walk with the Staffs & Stoke Local Nature Recovery Partnership

If you have previously been on a nature-themed walk with us (Kidsgrove Canal Nature Recovery, What On Earth?!, A Canalside Arcana) then we are happy to tell you that the final planned Kidsgrove Canal Nature Recovery Walk is happening on Saturday 28 June, 11am – 1pm.

This walk will once again be led by artist Anna Francis who will be joined by Nicola Lynes, Chair of the Community Advisory Board for the Staffordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Nicola will share more information about why setting priorities and actions is important for nature recovery in Staffordshire, and the role we can all play in protecting our nearby nature.

Here is everything you need to know if you’d like to come along on what is sure to be a fascinating and fitting finale to the series.

Where & When

When: Saturday 28 June, 11am – 1pm

Meet: 10.50am by the Canal & River Trust Lodge, which is on the towpath at the North Entrance to the Harecastle Tunnel, ST7 1DP. The walk is a circular route, beginning and ending at the same spot.

Getting there: To get there from The Avenue, take the footpath that runs along the side of the Memorial Garden. You’ll find the lodge where the footpath meets the towpath. Alternatively, you can make your way onto the towpath directly from the train station. Head towards Kidsgrove and you will see the lodge just before the tunnel entrance.

Booking your place

You can reserve a space for yourself and up to three others via this Google form.

Spaces on the walk are limited to 25 places due to the narrow canal path, and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Please only reserve places when you’re reasonably sure you can come along.

Once you submit the form, will email you from this address to either confirm your space on the walk, or advise that you’ve been added to the waiting list.

Access & Safety

The towpath is flat but can be uneven, narrow and slippery, especially in wet or frosty weather. There are no benches along the route. The walk is taken at a relaxed pace but do consider whether the path is suitable for you, particularly if you have low vision or limited mobility.

There’s a space on the booking form where you can let us know if of any access requirements you may have, such as BSL interpretation or sighted guidance. While can’t promise to make every event fully accessible, we will always do our best to make sure that you have the best possible experience.

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Sensasian 2025 Family Day

Get ready for another FREE Sensasian-al day for everyone!

The Sensasian 2025 Family Day at New Vic Theatre runs from 12pm – 5pm and is free to attend with no need to book.

Find out about food on the day
See venue and access info
Visit the Sensasian 2025 event page for this year’s full programme
Learn about Sensasian and see highlights from 2024 on the Sensasian project page

Sensasian 2025 Family Day Line-Up

Circus Raj

Auditorium (entry via ground floor or upstairs)

12.50pm to 1.20pm and 3.30pm to 3.40pm

Circus Raj present a vibrant, fast-moving extravaganza of drama, daring feats, music, and surprise.

As their show for Sensasian is happening inside the theatre, we won’t see slack-rope walking or live flames. But you won’t miss out; along with Govinda the Fakir the cast of acrobats, musicians and dancers will deliver eye-watering displays that will make you laugh and cheer!

Both performances will be Audio Described through a headset. Please ask a member of staff on the day if you would like to listen.

Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band

Outside the theatre

11.50am to 12.10pm then 1.15pm to 1.35pm and 1.50pm to 2.10pm

The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band is a living embodiment of ‘the land of royalty’, sharing Rajasthan’s rich tradition, heritage, and colourful lifestyle through a spectacular celebration of heady music and hypnotic dance.

Experience a diverse repertoire spanning Rajasthani folk songs, Bollywood hits, spiritual qawwali, Bhangra beats, sci-fi and intergalactic funk – and even some well loved pop songs – as loved by crowds at Belfast Mela, Bestival, and Glastonbury!

Block printing workshop

Youth Room (upstairs via bar area)

12pm-12.20pm, 12.40pm-1pm, 2pm-2.20pm and 2.40pm-3pm

Join this family-friendly hands-on block printing workshop on fabric using carved wooden blocks of various pattern designs. This hand-block printing technique – Sanganeri – originates from Sanganer, a village in the south of Jaipur.

The workshop takes about 20mins to complete with a couple of people being able to take part at a time. You may need to wait a short while to take part. We will try and make sure that everyone that would like to take part can do so.

Baluji Shrivastav OBE

Bar area (upstairs)

2.30pm to 3pm

Baluji Shrivastav OBE is one of the world’s leading composers and sitar players. Described as ‘sitarist to the stars’ (Evening Standard), he has performed and recorded with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, Massive Attack, Madness, Shakira, Malu, Boy George and Doves.

Baluji is signed to Naxos World ARC with over fifteen releases of classical and world music fusion. His compositions include works for orchestra, theatre, dance, film, television and radio. Selected credits include Disney’s Million Dollar Arm, 20th Century Fox’s New Girl, NBC’s Outsourced and the world’s only Urdu opera Sohini and Mahival, which he composed with Golden Globe and Oscar Winner Dario Marianelli.

Henna by Cherrie Matharu

Lounge (ground floor)

12pm to 4pm

Experience traditional henna by artist Cherrie Matharu.

Organic henna is a natural dye derived from the leaves of the henna plant. When mixed into a paste it is applied to the skin in intricate patterns and left to dry, leaving behind a beautiful temporary tattoo.

We expect henna to be a popular activity. Cherrie will get through as many people as possible during the time, and we may run a list on the day to avoid disappointment. Please ask a member of staff when you arrive.

Dharshanodiyaa School of Bharathanatiyam

Auditorium (entry via ground floor or upstairs)

1.40pm to 2.40pm

Experience the vibrant spirit of Indian culture through a captivating blend of Indian classical dance and Bollywood, presented by Dharshanodiyaa School of Bharathanatiyam.

The performance will merge the elegance of classical tradition with the energy and colour of Bollywood, offering a dynamic celebration of rhythm, expression, and storytelling.

Under the artistic direction of Srimathi Darshikka Rajasegaram, dancers showcase both discipline and creativity, staying rooted in tradition while embracing contemporary styles.

A short workshop will follow the performance.

The performances will be Audio Described through a headset. Please ask a member of staff on the day if you would like to listen.

Tofail Ahmed & Gurpit Matharu

Bar area (upstairs)

12.10pm to 12.40pm

Tofail Ahmed is a professional Indian musician and teacher spent years in Bangladesh and India honing his craft in vocal classical and light classical music. During his time in Delhi he trained as an ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) under Pt Birju Maharaj.

Tofail performs Ghazals, Classical, Bollywood songs and more, moving between styles – and languages including Bengalli, Sanskrit, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Braj Bhasha and Gujrati – with ease.

For Sensasian 2025 Tofail will be accompanied by Gurprit Matharu, one of the finest Tabla players in the UK.

The Poetry Takeaway

Outside the Theatre

12pm to 4pm

The Poetry Takeaway serves high quality, personalised poetry – written, performed and wrapped up to take away. This diverse group of poet chefs put the people they meet and the stories they share at the heart of each poem they serve up. Expect tears, laughter and everything in between.

The Poetry Takeaway
An old burger van
Stuffed with fresh poetry buns
Serving up warm words

Pub Quiz & Bingo With Your Host, Afreena

Bar area (upstairs)

3.50pm to 5pm

Get involved and join this entertaining family quiz show with quizmaster extraordinaire (and former contestant of The Chase!) Afreena Islam-Wright who will put you through your paces. Afreena is creating a special show just for Sensasian, but you can see her in action with her show Lucky Tonight below.

The perfect way to either end your family day, or start your evening before watching Ladies of Laughter.

BSL is available for this activity. No booking is required. Please indicate to a member of the team when you arrive to ensure you are seated with the best line of sight.

Food and Drink at Sensasian

Food and drink will be available to buy at the theatre. The café and bar will be open for usual hot and cold drinks and cake. Plus there will be a special plated menu for Sensasian available at £7 per plate as follows:

Afternoon menu served 12pm to 2pm: Chickpea curry with peas, rice, and fried bread

Evening menu served from 5.30pm: Samosa, spring roll, and an alki & onion bhaji with dip

NB the regular New Vic café menu will not be available on this day.

Venue and Access

All activities will happen in the building and grounds of New Vic Theatre, Etruria Rd, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle ST5 0JG.

The New Vic and its grounds are fully accessible, including accessible toilets, a lift to the upper floor, and a number of spaces for blue badge holders on the car park. Sunflower lanyards are available from box office. For more information on access at the New Vic, including assistance dogs and wheelchair spaces in the auditorium.

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Grow me a Waterlily and Shekah by Nilupa Yasmin, part of Sensasian 2025

'Grow me a Waterlily' and 'Shekah' by Nilupa Yasmin

Nilupa Yasmin is an artist and educator who explores the principles of art and craft and the expanded materiality within photography. She is interested in culture, self-identity, and anthropology, and investigates the ideals and traditions that are close to home; drawing upon her own identity through gender, religion and her British Bangladeshi culture and heritage. An element of her practice focuses on socially engaged photography, as she works collaboratively with various communities to produce, and curate works of art.

On show are Grow me a Waterlily and Shekah, in which Yasmin explores the fragments of identity through an exploration of craft and the politicised notion of fabric. Weaving as a form of self-expression is brought together with these works, that study her identity and her matrilineage.

Grow me a Waterlily dwells in the space between expectations and traditions; by offering an exploration into the self, the home and the idea of belonging. Intricately woven archival images are combined into self-portraits, incorporating statements made from Yasmin’s headscarf to her mother’s wedding saree. In this, each image tells a story of her journey into self-discovery.

Shekah highlights the process of learning, in which Yasmin explores her lost family history of weaving. Archive images of her mother in her youth, are created into woven prints on digitally printed fabric. She explores the tactile nature of weaving and its relationship to the very texture of the fabric, while restoring the age-old craft in a contemporary setting, challenging the expectations of what we perceive a weaver to be.

This exhibition features photographs and digitally printed fabric.

See Nilupa Yasmin’s exhibition, part of the Sensasian Festival 2025, in the public area at New Vic Theatre from Monday 30 June to Saturday 26 July. It’s free and there’s no need to book, simply in Monday – Saturday, 10am – 3pm.

Visit the Sensasian 2025 event page to see what else is on on Friday 26 & Saturday 26 July.

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Sensasian Community Consultation Event

Help Us Shout About Sensasian

We’re inviting YOU to join our Creative Consultation where you can share your expertise and insight to help us broaden our audience for Sensasian – a vibrant South Asian arts event coming this July from Appetite and New Vic Theatre.

Do you love Sensasian and want to help others find the programme?

Do you know where members of the local South Asian communities find out about events?

Have you got ideas on how we could better market, promote and increase awareness of Sensasian to more people?

If so, join us on Thursday 20 March 2025, 6pm – 8.30pm at New Vic Theatre and share your thoughts.

In return you can enjoy some live entertainment and refreshments, plus the company of others who are passionate about Sensasian.

What to expect

An open forum for thoughts, ideas, and conversations about the arts and culture you want to see
A chance to meet like-minded people who are as passionate about South Asian culture in Stoke-on-Trent as you are
A special live performance from local dance school Dharshanodiyaa School of Dance as a taster of the main event
Free tea, coffee and snacks

Who should come?

So please come along and lend us your insights to help us build events that reflect our Stoke-on-Trent’s vibrant heritage. Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard and be part of something amazing!

Questions?

Email Raz on Rasandeep@appetite.org.uk and he can answer any queries you might have before welcoming you to the event.

If you’re interested in what happened at Sensasian 2024, take a look at past events on the Appetite website, or check out our social media on Facebook @appetite.stoke and Instagram @appetite_stoke

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Ambassadors

Spread the word, get rewards!

Volunteer

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Sensasian 2025

Are you ready for the return of Sensasian?

Appetite and our partners New Vic Theatre are once more bringing together some of the best performers and artists in a showcase of South Asian cultural excellence.

Events run from Monday 30 June to Saturday 26 July and all take place at the New Vic Theatre, Etruria Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 0JG.

If you missed out on Sensasian 2024 and want to get a feel for the event, visit our Sensasian project page, where you can learn more about how Sensasian came to life, and get highlights from last year’s event.

Sesnasian 2025 Line-Up

‘Grow Me a Waterlily’ and ‘Shekah’ by Nilupa Yasmin

Monday 30 June – Saturday 26 July

10am to 3pm – Bar area – FREE

Nilupa Yasmin is an artist and educator who explores the principles of art and craft and the materiality of photography. She is interested in culture, self-identity, and anthropology. Through her work she investigates the ideals and traditions that are close to home, drawing upon her own identity through gender, religion and her British Bangladeshi culture and heritage.

Presented by Appetite and GRAIN Projects, this exhibition of Yasmin’s work will include photographs and digitally printed fabric. Read more about the exhibition.

Yeh Dosti : Celebrating 50 Years Of Sholay

Friday 25 July

Performance at 7.30pm – Age Guidance 16+

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Bollywood film, Sholay. Featuring mesmerising dance performances choreographed to the film’s legendary soundtrack, this spectacular music and dance show will transport you back to the heart of Bollywood’s golden era.

Food will be available at this event from 6pm and costs £7 per plate.

Sensasian Family Day

Saturday 26 July

12pm to 5pm – Suitable for all – FREE

Head to the Family Day event page to see details and videos of the brilliant line-up and activities that you can look forward to on the day including:

music
dance
circus
henna
block printing
poetry
quiz show

A day for everyone, bring your friends and family.

Ladies of Laughter

Saturday 26 July

Performance at 7.30pm – Age Guidance 18+

The Ladies Of Laughter are coming to Sensasian, flexing their female funny muscles especially for you! This hit tour is a night made for everybody, so round up your friends and family, and join us for a guaranteed night of hilarity!

Featuring:

Shazia Mirza (BBC, ITV, CH4)
Tej Dhutia (BBC AN)
Noreen Khan (BBC AN, BBC 1, BBC Radio 5 Live)
Annette Fagon (BBC Local Radio & BBC Radio 1Xtra)

Food will be available at this event from 5.30pm and costs £7 per plate.

Can you help spread the word?

We’ve been working alongside our groups of community decision-makers to come up with a programme of events that our communities in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme will be thrilled to see.

You can help us by spreading the word via social media, putting up a poster, sharing in a newsletter or simply telling your friends.

For more information or to request some print or marketing to share, email Raz on rasandeep@appetite.org.uk

Make a Donation

Help us continue what we do

Ambassadors

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Sensasian Community Consultation Event

Help Us Shape Sensasian

Do you have Sensasian-al ideas about what South Asian arts and events should look like in Stoke-on-Trent?

Have you got an insight into the cultural flavours that we are missing in our area? Got opinions about music, dance, and more … ?

We’re inviting YOU to join our Creative Consultation and have your say in shaping Sensasian, a vibrant South Asian arts event coming this July. Explore a curated menu of performers, share your thoughts, and vote for your favourites. Your influence is key as the most popular artists will be selected for our Sensasian programme!

When is it?

Wednesday, February 5 2025

6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

New Vic Theatre, Etruria Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 0JG

What to expect

An open forum for thoughts, ideas, and conversations about the arts and culture you want to see

A chance to meet like-minded people who are as passionate about South Asian culture in Stoke-on-Trent as you are

A special live performance from a musician to get a taste of what you will see more of in July

Free tea, coffee and snacks

Who should come?

So please come along and lend us your insights to help shape future artistic events that reflect our Stoke-on-Trent’s vibrant heritage. Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard and be part of something amazing!

Questions? Email Raz on Rasandeep@appetite.org.uk and he can answer any queries you might have before welcoming you to the event.

Make a Donation

Help us continue what we do

Ambassadors

Spread the word, get rewards!

Volunteer

Make friends & gain experience