Amrou Al-Kadhi | Dream Space – Factory International

Can a lack of control be freeing? In this episode of Dream Space, British-Iraqi writer, drag performer and filmmaker Amrou Al-Kadhi takes us on a journey through the cosmos where we become part of the universe.

Guided by host Gemma Cairney, Amrou imagines a euphoric rave inside a blanket of cosmic dust. There is no sense of time or urgency. Reflecting on queerness in his work, Amrou describes a space where everyone just is – people scream, cry and laugh like children without being judged.

Amrou Al-Kadhi's work focuses on queer identity, politics and storytelling. Their debut book Life as a Unicorn: A Journey from Shame to Pride and Everything In Between won the Polari First Book Prize and the Somerset Maugham Award. Their debut feature film Layla – a coming-of-age story set in London, about an Arab drag queen’s first love – premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2024.

About the Series

What does art have the power or potential to do, when we allow ourselves to dream?

Gemma Cairney poses this questions to some of the world’s most exciting artistic minds in a new podcast from Factory International.

In each episode we get to know our guest, find out what makes them tick, what brings them joy and inspiration. Together we create a new vision, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and ask what kind of art the world needs now.

Contributors

Gemma Cairney (she/her)
Host
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Gemma Cairney is a multi award-winning broadcaster, author and activist. Gemma’s documentary radio series include The Leisure Society for BBC 6 Music and The Sound Odyssey for BBC Radio 4. Previous radio credits include: Island Sounds, Dolly, Dylan or Daft Punk, and Mali Music (BBC 6 Music). Tempted By Teacher and Bruising Silence (BBC Radio 1) garnered two Sony Golds and her interview with Grace Jones, Amazing Grace, (BBC 6 Music) won the Best Music Show Rose d’Or. Her latest book, The Immortal Sisterhood, will soon be published by Canongate.
Emily Dicks (She/Her)
Editor
Emily is an award-winning, freelance senior producer and podcast exec with nearly 20 years’ of BBC and commercial experience. Podcast credits include How The UK Changed Hip-Hop Forever (BBC Radio 1Xtra), Sacred Money (BBC Audio Lab) and Unexpected Fluids (BBC Radio 1). Her documentaries credits include The Untold (Radio 4), Berlin Club Culture (Radio 4) and 1917: Eyewitness In Petrograd (Radio 4). Emily is also a DJ and presents her own podcast, Dances For Buildings, about club culture.
Alex Mannion-Jones (he/him)
Digital Content Producer
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Alex is the Digital Content Producer at Factory International where he produces video and audio content.
Scott Simoniti (He/Him)
Head of Audiences
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Scott heads up the Audiences department at Factory International, where he leads dynamic teams across multiple departments to grow engagement both at Aviva Studios and on Factory International’s digital platforms.
Dan Jackson (he/him)
Executive Producer
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Dan is an executive producer with twenty years’ experience making programmes for TV, radio and podcasting that span specialist factual and arts series including Dream Space for Factory International, Pod Save The UK for Crooked Media, Things I’ve Learnt for Mix Media, Beyond Belief for BBC Radio 4, The South Bank Show for ITV, Frieze Masters Talks for Frieze Galleries and many others for Spotify, The BBC World Service and independents.
Solomon King (He/Him)
Sound Designer
Solomon King is a London-based audio producer, sound-designer, and musician. He’s worked on strands for major broadcasters the BBC and the Guardian, across a variety of podcasts and audio projects, as well as with NTS Radio, producing music programming for a dedicated listenership. Alongside this work, he is developing his own music projects.
Andrew PM Hunt (he/him)
Composer
Andrew PM Hunt is a musician and composer based in Liverpool.