Vandal Factory

Vandal Factory

5.0 (4)
PERFORMING ARTS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Exploring those magic moments where art and activism meet. With warmth, passion and humour, Natalie and Henry discuss theatre, music, poetry and dance with amazing guests. Listen if you love community arts, climate justice, DIY ethics and anti-fascism. Plus banging tunes.

27 APR

Factory Floor Cuts: Lens on Gaza: The Sun and Moon Still Rise (Fadi A. Thabet, Shazia Bibi, Jon Wakeman)

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.

42 min
8 APR

#39 - Live at Manchester Punk Festival 2026! (Grail Guard & Smoked Poets)

Henry and Natalie return to MPF for another live, raucous episode full of heart & humour (and a dash of chaos!). Joining them in front of a live audience are Riaz and Adam from Grail Guard , plus Kashmiri artist Smoked Poets. Grail Guard perform a few of their visceral hardcore punk bangers as acoustic songs, and Smoked Poets delivers a couple of her powerful, anti-imperialist poems. Check out Grail Guard's new album, Still No Future, available now on TNS Records. Or better yet, catch both acts live at your nearest DIY venue! 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.

1hr 5min
5 MAR

Factory Floor Cuts: Do It Yourself: Making Political Theatre (Common/Wealth)

Common/Wealth are a theatre company based in Bradford and Cardiff, making work with, for and about working class communities and urgent social issues. Henry and Natalie took a trip to Bradford to chat about their first book, Do It Yourself: Making Political Theatre. The book is a retrospective of their work, it shares their methodology, personal experiences and belief in theatre being a tool for social change. Joining the episode are Ezra, May, Soarise and Evie discussing how they create vibrant, political work, the vital effect it's had on audiences, particpants and communities...plus a hint towards their next 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.

1hr 4min
12 FEB

#38 - Crochet on the Barricades (Kallemi & Sarah Corbett)

Henry and Natalie discuss recent protests, the Bussing In installation, their gig with Bob Vylan and Nat's dog, Ivy, pops by. Featuring interviews with Sarah Corbett and the band Kallemi. Founder of the Craftivist Collective, Sarah is known for pioneering "gentle protest" or "craftivism" as a form of strategic, mindful social change. Kallemi (كلّمي) an outernational all-female genre-fluid powerhouse ensemble. Kallemi is a result of a collaborative musical project between Swiss, Dominican and Palestinian musicians. 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.

1hr 13min
26 JAN

Factory Floor Cuts: A Grain of Sand (Elias Matar, Sarah Agha, Good Chance theatre company)

'A Grain of Sand' is a new play written and directed by Elias Matar and performed by Sarah Agha. It tells the story of Renad, an 11-year-old Gazan girl, who embarks on a dangerous journey. Carrying only the echoes of her grandmother’s tales and the spark of her own imagination, she searches for her family and the ‘Anqaa’ - the mythical Palestinian Phoenix. The play is touring the UK across 2026, visit Good Chance theatre's website and book a ticket for this astounding and profound piece of story-telling. 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.

37 min
5 JAN

Factory Floor Cuts: Boff Whalley

The full, unedited chat with Boff Whalley taken from episode #37. Boff is the former guitarist for Anarchist Pop-Stars Chumabwamba and founder and lead trespasser of Commoners Choir. He talks about his new book, 'But Life Isn’t Like That Is it?', which is a collection of stories, memories, anecdotes about disruption and digression. 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.

30 min
14/12/2025

#37 - The Disruptors (Boff Whalley & Yung Yusuf)

Henry and Natalie interview musicians Boff Whalley and Yung Yusuf. Boff Whalley is the former guitarist of Anarcho-Pop stars Chumbawamba and is the founder of Commoners Choir, talks about his new book - 'But Life Isn't Like That, is it?' and saying thank you to the people who inspired him. Yung Yusuf is a British-Palestinian rapper whose work spans sun-drenched jazz and wider fierce, bass-fuelled politics. Plus Henry and Natalie discuss local activism, Henry performs a classic poem and Natalie recommends a fresh musician. 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.

1hr 45min
01/12/2025

Factory Floor Cuts: Mohammed Moussa (Gaza Poets Society)

Mohammed Moussa is a poet, podcaster and founder of Gaza Poets Society. Joining us at Vandal Factory HQ half-way through a UK tour, Mohmmed talks about his love for language, what it means to be a Palestinian poet on stage and whether poems can change the world. 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.

33 min

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Top Notch Content

19/01/2024

HCDEE

Love these two vandals. Nerdy arty mega legends.

Exploring those magic moments where art and activism meet. With warmth, passion and humour, Natalie and Henry discuss theatre, music, poetry and dance with amazing guests. Listen if you love community arts, climate justice, DIY ethics and anti-fascism. Plus banging tunes.

Creator

Vandal Factory
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

74
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Copyright 2026 Vandal Factory
Show Website

Vandal Factory