Vandal Factory

In this special 2-parter, we champion Palestinian artists and voices in the struggle for rights and freedom against a brutal military siege and occupation. Our hearts, our rage and our solidarity goes out to everyone during this horrific time.

Thank you to all the artists who continue to guide us through humanity's darkest hour.

In part 1, Henry and Natalie discuss the ongoing invasion of Gaza and why we need to raise our voices in solidarity. You'll hear Palestinian hip-hop and conversations with the directors and volunteers of the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival. We play urgent audio from Artists On The Frontline, a collective response to the occupation in the West Bank. Plus people attending the Leeds demonstrations share their emotional insights and anger as we rally to demand: FREE PALESTINE.

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.

Keith Saha is a writer and Co-CEO/Artistic Director of 20 Stories High Theatre Company based in Liverpool. We chatted to him after the performance of High Time & Dirty Monsters at Leeds Playhouse about the show. We discuss working on a 'state of the nation play', working with young people, making the show political, accessible and buzzing.

We're proud to present Vandal Factory's first podcast in front of a live audience! Recorded as part of BIG UP FEST at The Tetely in Leeds on 4th November 2023!

We invited photographer Shy Burhan and rapper Henny Hurtz to talk about their work in social change and community arts. Henry performs a brand new poem and Nat's provocation revolves around HOPE. With a few bangers from Lowkey and Grace Petrie along the way.

We spoke to Peyvand straight after her show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Peyvand is a performer whose show, DUAL دوگانه is an award-winning solo show made in collaboration with a multi-national team featuring drag, animation, and the voice of Pedar (if you know, you know). It’s a show about being British, Iranian, stateless, as well as punky, mischievous and dangerously political.

We talk about the show, cats and Oi! and punk music!

Check out episode #17 of the Vandal Factory podcast (titled The Seeds and the Tools) to hear Peyvand’s song choice and more discussion about art and activism.

Political theatre, direct action and community projects!

What a summer! Henry and Natalie talk about a community project with young people exploring food and injustice called SERVING UP. We reflect on the fight against the Far Right showing up in the local area. Problem Patterns introduce their banging punk song 'Letter of Resignation'. Henry reports back from Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he chatted to theatre-maker Peyvand Sadeghian about her show DUALدوگانه, an award-winning solo show made in collaboration with a multi-national team featuring drag, animation, and an Anglo-Persian pop soundtrack.

CJ runs Black Lodge Press, creating radgey, spikey, angry, cheeky and bold artwork for posters, stickers, t-shirts and baby clothes. CJ talks about discovering street level Anarchist culture, getting into zine-making and gig-going, joining anti-austerity protests and what it means to create angry art.

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.

It's been a tough old month at Vandal Factory HQ. Henry and Natalie celebrate the life of a dearly departed friend and talk about the latest wave of violence affecting the Freedom Theatre in Palestine. But we also play a new track by Fold, talk about the actors and writers strikes in America and chat with Libra, part of Middle Child/Milk Presents' show: MODEST

How to support the Freedom Theatre:

https://www.therevolutionspromise.com/take-action

Find us on X, Instagram and Facebook!

Search ‘Vandal Factory Playlist’ on Spotify!

Dani from Faintest Idea talks about their new ska-punk masterpiece. Performance poet Hannah Davies reads from her new collection Dolls. Plus we discuss student activism, current issues and Henry performs a classic poem that he's updated. It's all good fun for you lovely Raptors.

Find us on X, Instagram and Facebook!

Search ‘Vandal Factory Playlist’ on Spotify for all previous stated "banging tunes."

We chat and dance with Bolshee CIC about the Dancefloor Project, about making nights out safe for everyone. Henry and Nat also discuss Dougald Hine's book At Work In The Ruins. What happens when there's no future to build towards? How do we make meaningful art and change in the wake of climate breakdown...and how do we keep dancing?

Plus we play tracks from The Bricks, Gaptooth and R.E.M. and Henry reads a classic protest poet from his back catalogue!

Find us on X, Instagram and Facebook!

Search ‘Vandal Factory Playlist’ on Spotify for all previous stated "banging tunes."

Henry and Natalie speak to workers on strike on February 1st, marching and rallying in Leeds City Centre. Workers, and young people, speak from the heart about why they are fighting for better working conditions that will benefit us all.

Henry and Natalie return to the Studio to interview Natalie Davies and Rachel Flint from People Poetry - a group that meet weekly with Space2 to write and share poetry.

This episode dives into solidarity and building accessible, welcoming, warm and political spaces to change the world...one poem at a time.

Find us on X, Instagram and Facebook!

Search ‘Vandal Factory Playlist’ on Spotify for all previous stated "banging tunes."