Theatre themes
Hey Vandals! Henry and Nat's very first episode looks at subcultures, normalising activism and political theatre and music. There's a chat with Rick Blackman about his book Babylon's Burning covering Anti‑Fascism in musical movements. Róisín McBrinn from Clean Break discusses Typical Girls, a play set in a prison where the women form a punk band.
Henry and Nat chat: COP26 a cop out? Reflecting on the climate movement with theatre director Zoe Lafferty. We discuss 'success' and tactics, as well as the usual questions of hope. Laurence Johnson and Mairi Claire Bowser from BECTU about sustainabilty in film and TV. Plus interview and performance with poet Chris Singleton and some bangin' tunes.
Henry and Nat chat to theatre director Dermot Daly about his work on the play 'My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored', dealing with age, sexism, class, race and education. The duo also natter with youth worker and DJ Sumayah Khan about work with young people and the joy of discovering nightclub spaces for South Asian communities. Plus banging music, perfomance poetry and a whole heap o' joy.
First up, Henry reports back from Manchester Punk Festival, featuring a host of punk poets sharing their thoughts (and vibes). We play 'Ale of Punk Band' (play/drink along at home!). We have a chat with guitaist Frances Bolley, who features in the queer punk opera Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Plus discussion on grassroots vs big picture activism, the Kinder Tresspass and more poetry and banging music!
Fresh from the Seacroft Climate Forum, Henry and Nat ask how do we build nourishing, powerful and political spaces to connect and build community? The pair interview Evie Manning, Co-Artistic Director of Common Wealth Theatre, and Nathan Stephen-Griffith from functional power-pop band MARTHA. Evie talks about the company and their new show (You Are Here As A Witness) and Nathan discusses the new album (Please Don't Take Me Back) and being the Millennial Housemartins.
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
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.
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.
Henry and Natalie interview Elvi and Chris about We're Not Going Back, a powerful play about Women Against Pit Closures during the 1984-85 Miners Strike. Argentinian artists Florencia and Clare from Music For Science discuss how they collaborated with scientists.
In this bonus episode, Henry chats with playwright Laura Horton and actor Peyvand Sadeghian up at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their show, Lynn Faces, is a funny, farcical and poignant new play, exploring the impact of abusive behaviour, the power of friendship and how silliness can be healing.
Featuring Marina Barham, the co-founder and General Director of Al-Harah Theater talking about their work bringing joy to communities living in the West Bank of Palestine. We also interview Amber Massie-Blomfield about her new book 'Acts of Resistance' about the power of art to make a better world.
On his last ever UK tour, rapper and activist B. Dolan discusses his latest album 'The Wound Is Not The Body', his writing process and his feelings ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections. Theatre director Sarah Brigham talks about 'Welfare', a show written about the Derbyshire mining community. Sarah talks about her career facilitating community work and how Derby Theatre works with community groups.
In this bumper special episode, Henry and Natalie have gathered unique contributions from across the UK. Featuring writers, poets, musicians and visual artists and Trade Unionists, we explore the good, the bad and the ugly parts of being self-employed in the arts and culture sector.
Hannah Khalil is an Irish-Palestinian playwright whose play My English Persian Kitchen recieved rave reviews after sold out shows. Hannah spoke to us about freelancing for episode #32, but here is the full interview where Hannah also discusses her plays and craft.
