Hayley & Ruth: Two Stars
40 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★ - 11 ratingsAn improvised podcast in which Susan Harrison and Gemma Arrowsmith play two critics who don't feel they actually have to see a film or play in order to review it.
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Episodes
Episode 5.3 - King Lear, starring Kenneth Branagh
October 24, 2023 08:00 - 57.2 MBHayley sets Ruth up on Tinder against her wishes and the pair review King Lear, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. Obviously they haven't seen it yet, but since when has that ever been an obstacle to reviewing?
Episode 5.2 - Quickfire round!
August 29, 2023 16:45 - 65.2 MBHayley and Ruth take suggestions from the listeners and review all the hot button topics, from wooden coat-hangers to Elon Musk's rebranding of Twitter.
Episode 5.1 - Barbenheimer
August 07, 2023 08:40 - 55.5 MBAfter a long hiatus in which Ruth persisted in continuing her own one-woman lockdown, the reviewing duo are back doing what they do best, reviewing things they haven't actually seen. Meanwhile Ruth is unimpressed by Hayley's holistic beauty products and Hayley is definitely not in a cult.
Episode 4.3 - Vaccines and online theatre
February 05, 2021 10:30 - 50.3 MBHayley and Ruth review the current selection of the Covid vaccines, while also finding time to cast a scathing eye over all online theatre.
Episode 4.2 - Lockdown
August 10, 2020 12:00 - 48.1 MBIs it a global pandemic or is it actually a global, site specific, highly ambitious, multi media/theatre piece? Hayley & Ruth firmly believe it's the latter and proceed to review everything from the 'casting' to the 'writing' of the Covid response with their usual mixture of hypocrisy and idiocy.
Episode 4.1 - Brexit Revisited
March 01, 2020 09:20 - 44.9 MBIt's four years since the podcast reviewed the EU Referendum and in this episode Hayley and Ruth discus Brexit, as always with varying degrees of accuracy. Also Hayley explains self-care and Ruth reminisces about her own childhood Brexit while reiterating her stance on therapy.
Episode 3.10 - Ruth Bratt as Jinny Glover
December 17, 2019 08:45 - 54.3 MBHayley & Ruth interview the incredibly softly spoken author Jinny Glover. A woman so quiet that members of her own family question her existence... Guest starring Ruth Bratt (@ruthbratt). susanharrisoncharacters.com gemmaarrowsmith.com
Episode 3.9 - The Apprentice
November 06, 2019 10:00Hayley & Ruth are at the National Theatre waiting to review some play or other. But while they wait, they respond to a listener request to review popular television programme The Apprentice.
Episode 3.8 - The Heatwave
August 01, 2019 10:45 - 42.7 MBHayley and Ruth review the British heatwave. Despite uncomfortably high temperatures and melting train tracks, Hayley has had the time of her life during the heatwave, whereas Ruth refuses to wear anything other than wool. Oh and the pair also receive a pie in the post. Catch up with Susan's live dates here: https://susanharrisoncharacters.com/live-dates/ and listen to Gemma's climate change comedy No Planet B here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/no-planet-b/id1460398628. Theme music ...
Episode 3.7 - The Woman in Black
May 16, 2019 11:30 - 28.2 MBHayley and Ruth head to the Fortune Theatre in London's West End to watch The Woman in Black. Is the ghost in the play a spectre that only Hayley can see? Or is it a woman in a wig as Ruth suspects? Thanks to listener Jenny for the ghostly suggestion for this episode. See Susan live here: https://susanharrisoncharacters.com/live-dates/ and Gemma's climate change comedy No Planet B is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/no-planet-b/id1460398628
Episode 3.6 - Self Help Books
March 26, 2019 18:30 - 37.8 MBHayley and Ruth review self help books, including such classics as Don't Forget Your Crown, Make Yourself Cozy and The Secret, in what turns out to be closer to an impromptu counselling session than a journalistic review. Recorded on Hampstead Heath London. Theme music by Matt Lewsey and Amy Ashworth from Skiffle and the Piffles.
Episode 3.5 - The Cultural Year Ahead 2019
January 22, 2019 18:15 - 75.8 MBHayley and Ruth look forward to what 2019 has in store in arts and culture, reviewing art exhibitions, plays and films, none of which have happened yet. Susan Harrison is in Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at the Other Palace until March: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/showstopper-the-improvised-musical/ Gemma Arrowsmith is performing her show EARTHLING at VAULT Festival in February: https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/gemma-arrowsmith-auntie/
Episode 3.4 - BBC1 Christmas Day schedule
December 22, 2018 15:30 - 60.7 MBHayley and Ruth review the BBC1 Christmas Day schedule, which includes such gems as Zog, BBC News, Christmas Morning from Oldham Paris Church and Hammy's Boomerang Adventure. Obviously they haven't seen any the programmes on offer but when has that ever stopped them before? Theme music as ever by Skiffle and the Piffles.
Episode 3.3 - Oxford Street Christmas Lights
November 29, 2018 10:00 - 56.5 MBAs Christmas approaches Hayley and Ruth brave London's busy Oxford Street to watch Jodie Whittaker turning the Christmas lights on. Along the way they review the John Lewis advert... without having seen it of course. Theme music as ever by Skiffle and the Piffles. 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' thanks to Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).
Episode 3.2 - Love Island
July 19, 2018 17:00 - 65 MBHayley & Ruth review the cultural sensation of Love Island. Hayley has seen every episode while Ruth hasn't seen a single episode and in fact doesn't own a television. This, they feel, gives them a unique perspective in order to review it. Susan's show Susan Harrison is a Bit Weepy is on at the Voodoo Rooms 4th-25th (not 13th) August at 14:00 during the Edinburgh Fringe.
Episode 3.1 - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
June 19, 2018 08:30 - 62.9 MBHayley & Ruth might have failed to secure free tickets to the latest Jurassic World movie, so they haven't actually seen it yet - but that won't stop them reviewing it. And it certainly won't stop them getting the title of the movie slightly wrong throughout their review.
Episode 2.8 - British Summer Time
April 28, 2018 16:45 - 44.5 MBAfter a never ending winter, for two whole days this April, the UK saw sunshine. Hayley and Ruth review this brief bit of British Summer Time from London's bustling Southbank, by the River Thames.
Episode 2.7 - Lesley Boughton
March 07, 2018 11:10 - 53.4 MBIn this episode, Hayley and Ruth are thrilled to chat to highly experienced actor Lesley Boughton, star of rep, fringe, big screen, small screen and medium screen.
Episode 2.6 - Valentine's Day
February 14, 2018 01:01 - 38.4 MBOn the most romantic day of the year, Hayley and Ruth join Irish poet Fintan Cresss to review a restaurant and to talk about his latest book Hallowed Halls.
Episode 2.5 - New Year's Fireworks
January 09, 2018 19:00 - 26.6 MBFrom Ruth's old offices at the Telegraph, Hayley & Ruth usher in 2018 by reviewing the new year fireworks display. They also look back at their cultural highlights of 2017.
Episode 2.4 - Reuben Bourgeois, Pantomime Director
November 09, 2017 18:00 - 67.2 MBJust in time for Christmas, Hayley and Ruth journey to Norwich to see a production of Cinderella by legendary panto director Reuben Bourgeois (Alex Lynch, @AlexJRLynch) who explains how he is reinventing the pantomime without all that frivolous nonsense like 'fun'.
Episode 2.3 - Athene Babbard, Theatre Director
November 04, 2017 18:08 - 49.8 MBThis month, Hayley & Ruth journey to a remote Scottish island to meet renowned theatre director Athene Babbard and watch her new version of The Scottish Play (Macbeth). Lucy Trodd (along with Susan) is a member of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical http://www.theshowstoppers.org/ Find Lucy on Twitter @LucyTrodd and book for Twin Peaks themed improv here: http://thenurserytheatre.com/events/10nov2017/
Episode 2.2 - Soho
October 16, 2017 20:20 - 52.6 MBHayley and Ruth attend an invigorating piece of invisible theatre and review a Nordic bakery in London's Soho.
Episode 2.1 - EdFringe 2017 Post Mortem
August 30, 2017 17:00 - 32.6 MBHayley and Ruth are back in London after a gruelling month of reviewing shows in Edinburgh. Hayley's had her heart broken, Ruth may or may not publish a review. Listen to their EdFringe top tips.
Episode 1.16 - Macey *****
May 11, 2017 22:00 - 47.2 MBHayley & Ruth are on the frontline of art once again as they meet artist Macey ***** in a warehouse in Shoreditch. Guest starring Georgie Morrell as Macey *****.
Episode 1.15 - Co-op Supermarket
April 07, 2017 15:30 - 44.2 MBAfter a listener requested they review the Co-op opposite Charing Cross Station, Hayley and Ruth find themselves at the supermarket at 6am.
Episode 1.14 - Fintan Cresss
March 08, 2017 01:01 - 51.5 MBHayley and Ruth accost world renowned poet Fintan Cresss at the book launch of his latest collection of poems. (With special guest Dan Starkey - @StanDarkley)
Episode 1.13 - Valentine's Day
February 13, 2017 10:45 - 39.3 MBHayley and Ruth discuss how best to spend Valentine's Day and also review some of Hayley's Valentine's cards.
Episode 1.12 - Christmas
December 20, 2016 11:50 - 41.9 MBHayley arrives at Ruth's house on Christmas Day and they spent a quiet Christmas together. Like, seriously quiet. Maybe reviewing Christmas will cheer them both up.
Episode 1.11 - Stefan van der Huis
December 08, 2016 12:25 - 44.6 MBStefan van der Huis is a modern artist whose work has sadly been passed over for the Turner Prize for being too dynamic and thought-provoking. Hayley and Ruth catch up with him at his latest exhibition. With Charlie Kemp: www.iamcharliekemp.com @Kempezofficial
Episode 1.10 - US Election
November 07, 2016 16:25 - 20.9 MBWith no knowledge or expertise of any kind, Hayley and Ruth are the perfect pundits to give you the facts in the run up to the 2016 US election.
Episode 1.9 - Halloween special
October 30, 2016 13:30 - 34.6 MBHayley & Ruth find themselves at the house party of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend. Hayley struggles with an unwieldy costume while Ruth struggles with some basic social interaction.
Episode 1.8 - Cabaret star La Poule
October 08, 2016 00:01 - 18.6 MBHayley and Ruth meet cabaret performer La Poule after a performance on London's South Bank to talk about art, love and criticism. (Also starring Sarah Louise Young: www.sarah-louise-young.com, @cabaretwhore)
Episode 1.7 - Little Chef
September 07, 2016 16:10 - 27.1 MBIn this episode Hayely and Ruth stop off at a Motorway Service Station on their way back from Edinburgh where they review the Little Chef menu as a work of literature.
Episode 1.6 - More EdFringe
August 26, 2016 12:35 - 15.4 MBWith Hayley still AWOL in Edinburgh, Ruth introduces this episode from the Two Stars archive, in which Hayley and Ruth discuss EdFringe digs and the five star rating system.
Episode 1.5 - EdFringe
August 07, 2016 08:45 - 27.5 MBWith Hayley away in Edinburgh, in this episode we delve into the archives and listen to Hayley & Ruth's journey to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015.
Episode 1.4 - Brexit
July 16, 2016 13:20 - 19.3 MBIn this episode, Hayley and Ruth review Britain's decision to leave the EU. With very little knowledge or understanding, they tackle the subjects of Brexit, our new Prime Minister and her choice of Foreign Secretary.
Episode 1.3 - American Independence
July 04, 2016 15:00 - 19.5 MBIt's the 4th of July so in this episode Hayley & Ruth review American Independence (after Ruth has explained to Hayley what Independence Day is).
Episode 1.2 - EU Referendum
June 21, 2016 09:20 - 16.1 MBIn this special episode, Hayley and Ruth review the EU referendum. Before it happens.
Episode 1.1 - Summer Blockbusters
June 07, 2016 06:50 - 50.1 MBIn this first episode, Hayley and Ruth review all the summer blockbusters of 2016. In particular the Angry Birds movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. As is customary, they have not seen any of these films.