“The festival creates opportunities for people to come together"
South Asian arts and culture festival Sensasian will return with its biggest programme yet, expanding across four venues and eight months in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Organised by Appetite in partnership with the New Vic Theatre, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and Arts Keele, the third annual festival will bring film, music, dance, storytelling and interactive cultural experiences to audiences across North Staffordshire.
The festival begins during South Asian Heritage Month with a screening of Joyland on July 3 at 7 pm at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery as part of its Friday Twilight series.
The award-winning Pakistani film is free to attend, with audiences invited to donate what they feel.
Set in Lahore, Joyland follows a family whose lives are transformed when the youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theatre and falls for an ambitious trans performer.
The film was Pakistan’s first official submission to the Academy Awards and received international acclaim for its exploration of identity, family relationships and social expectations.
Sensasian will then feature a dedicated area at Appetite’s flagship event, The Big Feast, on August 29 from 11 am to 5 pm in Hanley.
The new Sensasian zone will include performances and creative activities celebrating South Asian culture.
Visitors can enjoy storytelling from Peter Chand, henna art with Cherrie Matharu, Indian block printing workshops led by Jo Sumpter of Hello Tinka and performances of Nandita Shankardass’s dance production Roots to Rise.
The critically acclaimed work follows the journey of three women as they reconnect with the earth, ancestral wisdom and future generations. Audiences will also be able to take part in a related workshop.
The programme continues on November 18 with a performance by the Inner Vision Quintet at Keele Chapel.
Led by virtuoso sitar player Baluji Shrivastav OBE, the ensemble combines Indian classical traditions with influences from Middle Eastern, Western classical, jazz and folk music.
Featuring instruments including tabla, oud, sitar, viola and voice, the performance will take audiences on a musical journey across cultures and continents while highlighting the power of music to connect communities.
The festival will conclude at the New Vic Theatre on February 11 with Aunusthan – A Celebration of Neo-Classical Indian Dance and Music by Pagrav Dance Company.
The production showcases Kathak, which is known for its storytelling through movement, intricate footwork and expressive gestures.
The performance features choreography, live music and a cast of British Asian dance artists.
Appetite director Emily Labhart said: “What makes Sensasian special is that it has been shaped alongside members of the South Asian community in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire since it launched in 2023.
“The festival creates opportunities for people to come together through shared cultural experiences – whether that’s watching a film, seeing a performance, taking part in a workshop or simply spending time with others and discovering something new.
“We’re particularly excited to introduce a dedicated Sensasian area at The Big Feast this year.
“It’s a chance to bring the programme to even more people and celebrate the richness and diversity of South Asian arts and culture as part of one of the region’s biggest free outdoor events.”
Booking is not required for the Joyland screening or The Big Feast. Tickets for the Inner Vision Quintet performance at Keele Chapel cost £16, while students and under-16s can attend free of charge.
Tickets for Aunusthan will go on sale through the New Vic Theatre from Monday 22 June and will be priced at £20.
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