Innovative duo to go live on air

The joys and necessity of local radio and local community are celebrated in Live Art Collaboration Hunt and Darton’s touring open air station, which will pop up at Peterborough Guildhall in Cathedral Square on Saturday (26th)

The innovative live performance duo will set up shop – or, recording studio – eking out local people’s stories, observations and opinions, from the charmingly mundane to the quite extraordinary to the borderline ridiculous, in a celebration of local radio and community.

Stringent budgets and an ever-increasing centralisation of the media in London have led to a devastating demise in support for local radio, with tens of local shows closing their networks earlier this year. Hunt and Darton – with aerials strapped to their heads – will be inviting members of the public and guest presenters to highlight local activity and what their community means to them.

Drawing on their signature deadpan, playful and inclusive approach, Hunt and Darton will turn regular radio features into a series of absurd games: news bulletins? Local residents divulge anything from DIY successes to family births. Restaurant reviews? Hunt and Darton will sample food from nearby cafes. Agony aunt? Strangers share their problems in a kind, supportive environment.

Guest presenters, who in the past have included performance artists Lois Weaver (Split Britches) and Scottee (BBC Radio 4), will also be invited to produce content.

Jenny Hunt and Holly Darton said: “Radio Local is our most ambitious project to date, through commissions and workshops we want to really empower people, their contributions culminating in a challenging and highly engaging live public broadcast where we build radio with the general public.

“We are excited to see what collaborations grow and how much we can celebrate local voices.

“We have high expectations of the people out there and know that ultimately, it wouldn’t be local without them.”