Vandal Factory

Playwright and poet Suhaiymah discusses her play about love, laughs and tears.The play is at Leeds Playhouse 22nd Oct - 7th Nov. Use code PEANUT20 for 20% tickets! Hafsah and Bilal are at uni in London, far from home in Bradford and Brum; figuring out who they are and where they’re going. Hafsah has her faith, her books and big ambitions. Bilal is just trying to get through his degree. When a peanut butter and blueberry sandwich brings them together, an unexpected connection begins.

Live at Greenbelt 2026, join Henry and Natalie deep in the rebellious woods for another fiery chat about hope and anger! Joining the dynamic duo in front of a live audience is drag queen Flamy Grant and hip-hop upstarts Speit and Kayncee. Flamy Grant is a trailblazing, award-winning artist from Asheville, North Carolina. Speit is a Palestinian rapper and spoken word artist, born in the UK and rooted in resistance, Speit uses his voice to shine a light on the suffering of his family and community under occupation. Kayncee is an independent Hip-Hop artist from Crawley and founder of Go For It Records. Find us on Facebook and Instagram and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory. !

Joining Henry and Natalie are plucky folk musician Grace Petrie and the effortlessly alright poet Molly Naylor. We discussed their show This Is No Time To Panic!, performed by Grace and directed by Molly, a feel-good fusion of comedy and music for those depressed by the little things like fascism, misogyny and eco-destruction. This episode is recorded across Greenbelt Festival 2026, featuring Henry & Nat's reflections of artists, discussions, music and vibes. Cropping up is music from Jarmouse, poetry from Hannah Davies a rare guest appearance from VF's number 1 fan - Handsome Pete. Find us on Facebook and Instagram and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Marena Riyad talks about her play Majenin, which means 'crazy people' in Arabic. The Palestinian rom-com you've been waiting for: a tale of two fools who dare to love in a world obsessed with their sadness. Marena talks about the play's themes, combining stand-up with theatre and her excitement at hitting the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.To support the show, visit their linktree and JustGiving Page to donate to help this amazing show reach audiences: https://linktr.ee/majenintrilogy.

Welcome to a live episode recorded at Wharf Chambers in Leeds! In front of a live audience, Henry & Natalie chat to Palestinian performance poet Farah Chamma and queer punk/hip-hop band DRAAGS. The mischievous DRAAGS join Farah for a totally improvised and unique set, scoring her poetry with an incredible and one-of-a-kind soundscape. DRAAGS will play their final ever show 16th August 2026 at Wharf Chambers. Be there!Find us on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Henry interviews Gregg Deal, led singer and spoken word artist fronting Dead Pioneers. The band emerged as a dynamic extension of vocalist Gregg's performance art, seamlessly blending music with critical cultural commentary. Rooted in the same themes of identity and resistance that define his visual work, the band’s sound acts as a powerful platform for addressing the complexities of Indigenous experience.Find us on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

To celebrate Refugee Week 2026 we give you this wonderful mixture of voices from all around the world.We also commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox, we discuss in what ways we have, 'more in common than divides us'.Nat has the pleasure of running a drama group with Fall Into Place Theatre Company and Solace, a charity that supports refugees with their mental health and wellbeing. Solace mark their 20 year anniversary this week, so this episode is dedicated to everyone who has been apart of that incredible journey.

Perfect Show For Rachel is a unique and trimphant theatre performance where Rachel controls the show! Rachel is a learning disabled woman who loves Kylie, fart jokes and firing her actors on the spot! We spoke to Flo, Rachel's sister about rules and rule-breaking, learning and unlearning. Flo is the artistic director of Zoo Co and talks us through the process and the political importance of access embedded throughout the show. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

We ask comedian Josie Long about hope and anger! Josie is a jester, activist and all round good egg. She's a trailblazer of the UK comedy industry as the first woman to be nominated 3 times for the Edinburgh Comedy Award (2010–2012).We also hear voices from the Solace refugee group on the theme 'more in common', and members of Keep the NHS Public talk about the exhibition Patients Not Passports.Find us on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Lens on Gaza: The Sun and Moon Still Rise is a photography exhibition at East Street Arts, in Leeds UK. It presents an intimate visual narrative of life, resilience, and humanity in Gaza, through photographer Fadi A. Thabet’s own lived experience and work within the city.The exhibition will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (12 – 4pm) & Saturday and Sunday (12 – 4pm) until May 9th 2026. East Street Arts is located on St Mary's Ln, Leeds LS9 7EH. Henry speaks to creative producer Shazia Bibi and Artistic Director of East Street Arts, Jon Wakeman, alongside some audio from the artist, Fadi A. Thabet. Fadi was born in 1978 in the central Gaza Strip. A photographer, human rights activist, and art education teacher, Thabet believes that art must serve a purpose without a cause, creative work risks losing its ability to reach and move the world if not created in all circumstances.Alongside his photographic practice, Thabet works closely with children who have endured the trauma of war and displacement in Gaza. Through art education and creative expression, he supports young people living in camps, helping them process trauma and rebuild a sense of hope and agency.Shazia Bibi is a cultural producer exploring narratives of identity, belonging, and social justice that transcend borders.East Street Arts supports artists to explore, connect, and challenge artists to be catalysts of change through art. Bethlehem Arts Festival provides a platform for international collaboration rooted in Palestinian heritage and creativity. Leeds Palestinian Film Festival raises awareness and solidarity through film and visual culture.