October’s Culture Fix: 7 Things To Do, See & Watch This Month

The moment every Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan fan has been waiting for. Foe finally lands on screens this October, bringing with it an unnerving look at what the future could look like. 

Based on the book of the same name by Iain Reid, Foe follows a young married couple who live and work on a farm. Set approximately forty years into the future, their rural life is disturbed when a figure arrives at their door claiming he works for the government. Junior (Mescal) has supposedly been selected to be sent to space with no choice but to leave Henrietta (Ronan) behind. 

Directed by Garth Davis (Lion, Mary Magdalene), this dystopian narrative is one to book.

On the hunt for a new juicy podcast to listen to on your commute? BBC Sounds has just launched a pod designed with music and pop culture lovers in mind, hosted by Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw. 

Titled Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, it sees the broadcasting pair delve into the world of music. Released weekly, it’ll see them discussing everything that’s happened in music that week, “from the sublime to the ridiculous” as Nick calls it. The pair will be joined by music legends, experts and friends for a laidback dive into music’s core.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NOW Gallery (@nowgalleryse10)

There are a host of exciting exhibitions landing this autumn, but one that always catches our attention is NOW Gallery’s annual Human Stories retrospective. 

Returning this October for a four-week period, NOW Gallery will once again spotlight some of the finest talent in photography. This year’s exhibition highlights six photographers from South Africa, each who document the diverse culture of their homeland. 

A Young South Africa – Human Stories’ photographers include Bee Diamondhead, Fede Kortez, Aart Verrips, Nikki Zakkas, Anita Hlazo, Ben Moyo and Karabo Mooki.

Whether you’re a fan of Stephen Fry’s 2017 book or an admirer of illustration, this month’s release is exciting. Fry’s beloved tome Greek mythology retelling is re-released this October, complete with illustrations as the tale unfolds. 

The perfect addition to any bookcase, Mythos: The Illustrated Story delves into “these extraordinary myths of our modern age in striking colour – in all their dazzling and deeply human relevance”.

A platform for Black people to celebrate their history, heritage and culture, Black History Month is an annual celebration which takes place in October. This year’s theme is ‘Saluting our Sisters’, nodding to the powerful role that Black women have played to shape history and create change.  

Numerous events and initiatives will be taking place across the country throughout the month. Highlight events in London include the In Conversation with Christine Ohuruogu at Old Town Hall Stratford; COBO Comedy Shutdown Special in Hayes and Ilford; Black Farmers Market in Brixton; and 75 Ways to Celebrate Windrush75 in Greenwich.

A different take on our usual theatre inclusion, Adam Kay returns to the stage this October with an impactful follow-up. 

Following the success of his memoir, This Is Going To Hurt, which became an instant best-seller and went on to later become a BBC series, Kay released an equally impactful follow-up, Undoctored. This month sees him head back on stage to perform heart-wrenching and, at times, humorous anecdotes from Undoctored.

Apple TV+ is killing it with their original series dramas and Lessons in Chemistry is set to be the next big release that everyone’s talking about. 

Based on the novel by the same name, the miniseries follows Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson), a female scientist whose career dreams are put on hold. Set in the early 1950s, she is fired from her lab role but in turn accepts a job as a host of her own TV cooking show. It’s here she sets out to inspire a nation – and it turns out it’s not just the women who are listening.