FOOD & FEASTING IN ANTIQUITY-
CLASSICSFEST 2026
A celebration of theatre, food, ideas and the ancient world
Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 May 2026
A collaboration between the Lit & Phil and the School of History, Classics & Archaeology at Newcastle University
Produced by Cinzia Hardy
ClassicsFest 2026 brought Newcastle to life with three days of theatre, talks, tastings, performance and conversation inspired by the ancient world.
Across the city, audiences explored Food & Feasting in Antiquity - discovering how ancient food culture connects to contemporary questions of identity, hospitality and community.
From Roman banquets to modern-day migration stories, the festival created space for shared experience, curiosity and conversation.
“What an amazing event - full of rich and stimulating content and not snobby at all.”
ClassicsFest 2026 in Numbers
✨ 1 festival | 3 days | 17 events
✨ 4 live performances | 1 exhibition | 1 film screening
✨ 950+ audience members | 1,000+ tickets booked
✨ 9 academics | 13 creative freelancers | 8 volunteers
✨ 9 partner organisations
✨ 8 Roman recipes sampled
✨ 7 Roman & Greek-style wines tasted
✨ 1,000+ brochures and bookmarks distributed
Theatre & New Writing
This year’s performances brought the ancient world into the present through humour, drama and bold new writing.
At the Tyneside Cinema, audiences experienced Trimalchio’s Dinner Party alongside an afternoon tea inspired by Roman banquet culture.
At Alphabetti Theatre, audiences saw Great Granda Apicius - the winning entry in the ClassicsFest writing competition.
“Super engaging and well connected to modern day.”
“Very funny and lots of heart.”
Food, Hospitality & Community
Food was central to this year’s festival - not just as taste, but as connection.
Audiences sampled Roman recipes, explored ancient wines, and took part in discussions on hospitality past and present.
“Roman food was delicious and not hugely different from today.”
One of the most powerful conversations brought together community participants, refugee voices and academics exploring hospitality across cultures.
“This type of event… is the answer to all the racist hate we see today.”
Collaboration at the Heart
ClassicsFest 2026 was created with partners across theatre, museums, universities, schools and community organisations, including Seven Bridges Café and the North East Refugee Service.
Projects were developed over months through workshops, creative development and shared storytelling.
The result was a festival shaped by many voices - not just presented to audiences, but created with them.
Audience response
Across the weekend, audiences returned again and again - for ideas, performances, food and conversation.
“Brilliant programming… intellectual depth and range.”
“It reset my outlook on so many things.”
“Hugely ambitious and everyone should be proud of what they achieved.”
All images: Jason Thompson, Sound Ideas Media
THANK YOU
ClassicsFest 2026 was made possible by audiences, artists, academics, volunteers, partners and funders who made this collaborative festival possible.
Thank you for attending, taking part, supporting and sharing in the experience. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2027.
ClassicsFest 2026 was been made possible by the generous support of The Community Foundation North East – Newcastle Culture Investment Fund; The David Family Foundation; The Leche Trust; Classics For All North; The Institute of Classical Studies;The Gillian Dickinson Trust; The Roman Society; The Classical Association; The Hellenic Society; Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust; The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Newcastle University and The Department of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University.
ClassicsFest 2026 highlights-
Food and feasting in Antiquity
As we look forward to ClassicsFest 2027, coming to the Lit & Phil in May 2027, this video looks back at ClassicsFest 2026: Food & Feasting in Antiquity. The 2026 festival (14–16 May) was a celebration of theatre, food, ideas and the ancient world. It brought Newcastle to life with three days of theatre, talks, tastings, performance and conversation. Across the city, audiences explored Food & Feasting in Antiquity - discovering how ancient food culture connects to contemporary questions of identity, hospitality and community. From Roman banquets to modern-day migration stories, the festival created space for shared experience, curiosity and conversation.
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