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Front Row: Rufus Wainwright, hairdressing film Medusa Deluxe, the rise of the understudy

Rufus Wainwright, hairdressing film Medusa Deluxe, the rise of the understudy

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Rufus Wainwright, hairdressing film Medusa Deluxe, the rise of the understudy

Rufus Wainwright, hairdressing film Medusa Deluxe and the rise of the understudy.

Rufus Wainwright on collaborating with family for his latest album, Folkocracy, and Thomas Hardiman on setting his film Medusa Deluxe at a competitive hairdressing competition.

Rufus Wainwright talks to Samira Ahmed about his new album Folkocracy, a collection of reimagined Folk songs.  The album includes collaborations with artists including John Legend, Chaka Khan and his sister Martha Wainwright.

Thomas Hardiman talks about his new film Medusa Deluxe, a gritty murder mystery set at a hairdressing competition.  He explains where his unusual idea came from and why he uses his films to explore obsession, whether with hairdressing or carpet sales. 

Before Covid, many theatre productions didn’t cast understudies at all but now plays are casting two for one role.  The BBC’s Carolyn Atkinson investigates the rise of the understudy. 

Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Olivia Skinner

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