Experience a scary legend of Dartmoor through binaural sound

Ever since the 1920s, motorists have blamed a ghostly pair of ‘Hairy Hands’ for causing numerous road accidents in Devon. Now a new audio experience allows listeners to experience these spooky happenings themselves.

Featuring an unnerving binaural sound design, the Hairy Hands FM experience gives listeners the chance to interact with a radio talk show host who will help them defeat the mythical monster, in a unique interactive adventure.

For artist Joe Strickland, the project is a chance to explore how an interactive format can allow audiences to explore horror in new ways. It's also a chance to experiment with using technology to create a sense of theatre outside a performance venue.

Joe was inspired by The Encounter by Complicité; "I was so fooled by the binaural sound that I realised that, for digitally recreating the feeling of liveness and presence, this was the technology to use".

Hairy Hands FM was showcased at the Southwest Creative Technology Network’s Data Showcase on 26 March 2021. You can watch the event here.

Hannah Parsons is a sound designer, producer and recordist specialising in binaural, spatial audio technology. They design sound-led yet accessible pieces, working with emerging writers to realise their visions in new, immersive ways. They are also a stage manager.

Joe Strickland combines their backgrounds as theatre maker, magician, psychologist, and creative technologist to make original audience experiences for traditional, found, and digital spaces. They are Artistic Director of the theatre company Chronic Insanity and are currently completing a project to create and stage 12 shows in 12 months.

Hairy Hands FM features the voices of Charlie Basley (Temp), Abbi Davey (Sarah), Alex Stedman (Trevor) and Phillip Garcia (Mystery Voice).

The project was commissioned by New Creatives - a talent development scheme launched by BBC Arts and Arts Council England. It was supported by Kaleider and Calling The Shots.