The Burslem Witch Returns: Molly Leigh’s Legend Brought to Life on Stage by B Arts
Plus walks at Ford Green Hall to commemorate Arthur Berry, alfresco summer yoga sessions at Trentham, and join a circus fun day at Gladstone Pottery Museum…
WHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅
HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)
🧙🤷♀️ Who is Molly Leigh? 23/07 7.30pm; 24/07 2.30pm (relaxed performance); 25/07 2.30pm; 26/07 2.30pm & 7.30pm; 27/07, 2.30pm, B arts. This community opera introduces one of the city’s famous urban legends, Burslem witch Molly Leigh, and explores what it was like to be excluded from society and the fate of those considered ‘different’ through immersive music and storytelling. Composed and written by Francesca Le Lohe and Gareth Mattey, the show was produced by B arts and co-created with members of the local community. Tickets from £5
🤹 Circus in the Courtyard. 01/08, 11am-4pm, Gladstone Pottery Museum. Take the kids along for a day out with a difference: local aerial arts collective Kinetic Heights is set to lead a circus fun day, so join the instructors for circus skills and aerial workshops, where you can fly high, spin fast or tumble in the air like an acrobat. Normal museum admission (£8.75 adults, £6.10 children) applies.
🧘 Self Care Sundays at Trentham. 27/07-31/08, 9am-10am, 5.30pm-9pm, Trentham Estate. Set against the calming backdrop of Stoke’s most gorgeous gardens, you’ll build strength, mobility and flexibility with this morning yoga class led by Kirsty Booth. Tickets £10 (meet at the visitor centre at 8.50am)
🔪Strange But True Crime. 28/09, Victoria Hall. From the serial killer who gained work in law enforcement while on the run – and ended up hunting himself – to the balloon-carrying killer clown, this night of true crime is led by ex-forensics lecturer Jennifer Rees, presenter of The Psychology of Serial Killers, who explores the world's most shocking and unbelievable cases. Tickets from £24.50.
🚶 A Stroll for Arthur Berry. 10/08, 11am-12pm, Ford Green Hall. The Arthur Berry Weekend Walking Tour celebrates the artist’s centenary and the fact that one of his paintings is now in residence at Ford Green Hall. The inaugural walk, from Smallthorne to Burslem, will be led by local historian and author Mervyn Edwards. Two further walks will follow on 17/08 (Burslem to Middleport) and 23/08 (Middleport to Wolstanton). Can’t make it? Downloadable self-guided versions of the walks will soon be available here. For the 10/08 walk, meet at Ford Green Hall Cafe from 10.30am. Admission free.
🍺 🌭 A Celebration of Sausages ‘n’ Cider. 06/09, 2pm-11pm, Hanley Park. Sip your way round 30 different ciders and chomp on 20 different sausage flavours at the Sausage and Cider festival, where Scouting for Girls are the headline act. There’s also music from Queen, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Oasis and Sam Fender tribute acts, plus an eating competition, market and more. Tickets from £19.50.
🗣️ Debating Weighty Issues at Keele. 02/10 onwards, 7.30pm, Westminster Theatre, Keele University. Since 1980, the Keele World Affairs forum has invited celebrated speakers to discuss global issues with its members, and the season kicks off with Dr Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Porritt CBE on 02/10. You can find out more, including how to become a member, here. There are 20 meetings on Thursday evenings between October 2025 and March 2026, so there’s plenty of opps to get involved. Subscription rates £35 (concessions £30, students £15).
EVENTS LISTINGS
Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford
Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates
Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre
Open mic nights, every Thursday, Darcy’s
Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre
Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12
Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay
Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)
Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery
Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem
World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month
Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Captain’s Bar
Daydreaming, until 31/08, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Jasperware at Wedgwood, 31/07; 29/08; 25/09; 31/10; World of Wedgwood
Big, Big Sky, 05/07-24/07, New Vic
For the Love of Stoke: a Centenary Exhibition, 09/07-10/08, Spode Museum
JCB Lakeside 5 and Fun Run, 10/07, JCB Rocester
DJ Summer School, 14/08-31/08, Sydney Works
Monsters of Rock Live, 18/07, Trentham Estate
The Grub Club Pop-up, 18/07, Glost House
The Millennial Soundtrack 19/07, Trentham Estate
One Direction 15 Year Anniversary Party, 19/07, the Sugarmill
Who is Molly Leigh?, 23/07-27/07, B arts
A Tribute to Ed and Taylor, 25/07, Trentham Estate
Dougie Mac Big Swim Weekend, 26 &27/07, various locations
Senasian Family Fun Day, 26/07, New Vic
The Modern Country Music Show , 26/07, Trentham Estate
One Big Stokie Day, 25/07, Hanley Park
The Ladies of Laughter, 26/07, New Vic
Newcastle Jazz & Blues Festival, 25/07-27/07, Newcastle town centre
LIV Golf UK, 25-27/07, JCB Town & Country Club
Self-Care Sundays, 27/07-31/08, Trentham Estate
Tales in the Park, 29/07-15/08, various locations
Circus in the Courtyard, 01/08, Gladstone Pottery Museum
Three Counties Open Art, 09/08-30/08, Fenton Town Hall
Hartshill Community Festival, 03/08, The Wade Centre & Noahs Bar & Restaurant
Much Ado About Nothing & Macbeth, 02 & 03/08, Bolton Gate Farm
The Time Traveller’s Adventure, 05 & 06/08, New Vic
Northern Soul & Motown Disco, 09/08, Middleport Pottery
Arthur Berry Weekend Walking Tour, 10/08, Ford Green Hall
A La Puppet Show, 14/08, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
August Bank Holiday - Wakes and All, 19/08, Mitchell Arts Centre
A Night at The Darts, 22/08, Kings Hall
The Big Feast, 22 & 23/08, Hanley city centre
Bill Bailey, 28/08, Regent Theatre
Sausage & Cider Festival, 06/09, Hanley Park
Jimmy Carr, 10/09, Regent Theatre
Fenton Folk Day, 20/09, Fenton Town Hall
Strange But True Crime, 26/09, Victoria Hall
Potters ‘Arf, 28/09
Keele World Affairs, 02/10 onwards, Keele University
For more events, all the way up until October, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.