A new display at the Theatre Royal in York has revealed what King Richard III of England may have sounded like based on state-of-the-art technology. The project, spearheaded by vocal coach Yvonne Morley-Chisholm and a team of specialists, took 10 years to complete and involved various fields including dentistry, forensic psychology, and linguistics. The re-created voice of Richard III was found to have a common and earthy twang, with an accent similar to that of Yorkshire in northern England. This portrayal is based on evidence gathered from historical manuscripts, letters, and descriptions of the king.
The discovery of Richard III’s skeletal remains in a Leicester parking lot in 2012 dispelled many myths surrounding the monarch, including his physical appearance. The project also involved the selection of an actor, Thomas Dennis, to play the king’s avatar, with input from historian Philippa Langley regarding Richard’s character traits and personality. The avatar project has been praised as a step towards exploring less tangible aspects of Richard III’s life and history.
Linguist David Crystal, who worked on the project, suggests that this recreation of Richard III’s voice could inspire similar projects for other historical figures. The portrayal of the king’s accent and personality offers a glimpse into the past, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of a historical figure who was famously portrayed by Shakespeare.
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