Inspired by Orson Welles’ 1938 ‘War of the Worlds’, Pontypridd’s Emergency Radio and Communications Ynysangharad [P.E.R.C.Y] was an interactive community arts project depicting a fictional local radio station’s mission to report live on an alien invasion as it unfolded.
 

Participants were guided via the P.E.R.C.Y radio broadcast podcast to visit the makeshift station in the Pontypridd Market food hall, where they were invited to participate by reporting their extraterrestrial sightings to update radio listeners as the story developed.
 

An audio transcript of the broadcast was available for participants who are deaf or hard of hearing, in the form of a newspaper handout, which could be found at the radio station during the art trail.
 

“Pontypridd Market is the perfect location for P.E.R.C.Y – as the community hub of the town, it felt like a very natural place for Ponty residents to gather in the event of an alien invasion.
 

I designed P.E.R.C.Y, [aptly named after my dog, who similarly to the aliens in question, causes chaos in a daily basis], with the aim of encouraging imagination and spontaneity from residents of Pontypridd – I believe the interactive arts are perfect for bringing playfulness and humour to our everyday lives.
 

I’d like to say a huge thank you to Nigel from the market for allowing me to convince his customers that aliens have invaded, as well as to Heloise, Sarah, Becky, Laura, Beth, Mike, Tim, Gini, Katy and Lanty, and everyone at USW who has helped make my uni experience incredible”

– Hannah Druce