Refused Classification Interview with Alexei Toliopoulos and Zachary Ruane (Movie Squad Podcast #483)

It’s West Coast meets East Coast film fandom on this bonus Movie Squad pod, as Tristan Fidler and Simon Miraudo are joined by Alexei Toliopoulos and Zachary Ruane to discuss their brand new comedy show Refused Classification.

Zach is well known for being one leg of the Aunty Donna tripod, and Alexei is the host of The Last Video Store podcast, but from here on out, they may be best recognised as the alternate timeline version of beloved Aussie critics David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz, whom they play in Refused Classification.

Their show (a fusion of stand-up, documentary, protest and audacious verbatim theatre) sees Alexei and Zach relaying (and replaying) Margaret’s iconic stoush against the authorities as she attempted to screen the banned film Ken Park in 2003.

Tristan and Simon caught up with Alexei and Zach during their sold-out run of shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and ahead of them bringing Refused Classification to Boorloo for the Perth Comedy Festival, playing The Rechabite on Friday 9 May. (There are also limited tix available for their Melbourne run, thanks to some newly added shows!)

Movie Squad’s on-air segment is on a brief hiatus but keep tuning in to RTRFM and join the Blockbuster Babes for their triumphant return on Friday 2 May at 7:30am with Breakfast host Pam Boland. You can always play catch-up with past episodes of the podcast here.