Ep 96: Dear England and Couples Therapy

Ep 96: Dear England and Couples Therapy

Refigure episode 96. Chris and Rifa watch two TV shows on the BBC iPlayer: the fourth season of Showtime's NYC-based reality show Couples Therapy with Dr Orna Guralnik, which gets as close as television can to the reality of a psychotherapist's process, and the hit BBC drama series built from James Graham's West End play Dear England, documenting Gareth Southgate's time as England men's football manager and his changes to the culture of the team, built on Joseph Fiennes' startlingly accurate portrayal of Southgate. In 'what you reading for?' Chris is reading Steve Hanley's memoir of his time in the band The Fall, The Big Midweek, while Rifa is reading David Bramwell's psychedelic counter-culture adventure-slash-memoir The Haunted Moustache, which has recently been made into a film. The lovely badges in this week's episode artwork were made by Holly Swain [https://hollyswain.co.uk/], we spotted them at her Brighton Open House exhibition, she was one of the most striking makers we saw, the whole month of Open Houses (we bought quite a bit of her stuff). Thanks so much for listening, we hugely appreciate your ears. Find us on Insta @refigureUK.

Ep 95: Joelle Taylor and Ren

This episode, we saw Joelle Taylor give an outstanding performed reading of her new book Maryville. We then watched a panel discussion with the rapper / singer-songwriter Ren and his business team. Rifa is reading Samantha Harvey's Booker prizewinning novel Orbital, while Chris is reading John Grindrod's funny and thought provoking LGBTQ+ social history Tales Of The Suburbs. Thanks so much for listening, supporting the podcast and telling your friends about us. It means a lot, we love you. Find us on Insta: @RefigureUK

Ep 94: Kate Butch and The Secret Agent

Chris and Rifa enjoy Kate Butch's drag cabaret show Choose Your Own Cabaret at The Old Market in Hove and watch Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent, which has just become available to stream via Mubi. Rifa devotes her 'What You Reading For?' slot to some emails from guys who recommend women authors. Chris is reading Patrick Radden Keefe's new non-fiction thriller London Falling. Thanks for listening, find us on Insta at @refigureUK.

Ep 93: Geese and Bait

Rifa and Chris go to Hammersmith Apollo to see the Brooklyn cult band Geese and watch Riz Ahmed's new dramedy TV series Bait. Rifa is reading a short fiction compilation called Re:sisters, while Chris is reading Kate Kennedy's Cello (thanks for the loan, Jon Clayton). Thanks for listening! Follow us on Insta @refigureUK

Ep 92: Tracey Emin, Dadaism, Nigerian Modernism

Chris and Rifa visit Tate Modern to check out the Tracey Emin retrospective Second Life and the major show of Nigerian Modernism. We also watch two art history docs on the BBC: Jim Moir's Gaga For Dada about Dadaism and the Irish film Iarsmaí (Remnants) about campaigns in Ireland to persuade museums and institutions to give back stolen artefacts. Rifa is reading Tori Amos' book Resistance and Chris is reading Bettany Hughes' Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Thanks for listening, find us on Insta @refigureuk.