The voice of medieval king Richard III has been recreated using technology, complete with a distinctive Yorkshire accent.
An digital avatar of the monarch was unveiled at York Theater Royal, with experts assisting in replicating his voice.
Richard III reigned as King of England from 1483 until his death in 1485 at the age of 32. His remains were discovered under a car park in Leicester in 2012 as part of Philippa Langley’s Finding Richard project.
Through various scientific methods, including DNA analysis, his skeleton was identified and now his voice has been successfully recreated.
Langley, speaking about the recreation, stated to Sky News: “We have leading experts who have been working tirelessly on this research for a decade, ensuring that every detail is meticulously researched and presented with evidence. Thus, we have the most accurate portrayal of Richard III.”
Yvonne Morley Chisholm, a voice teacher and vocal coach, joined the project over 10 years ago, providing after-dinner entertainment comparing Shakespeare’s Richard III with real-life figures.
The project took an unexpected turn when Maury Chisholm was prompted to create a performance following the discovery of Richard III’s remains under a car park in Leicester.
The voice re-creation project quickly gained momentum, with experts from various fields coming together to piece together the puzzle.
The reconstructed voice of Richard III has a strong Yorkshire accent, distinct from the English accents typically heard in portrayals by actors like Ian McKellen and Laurence Olivier in Shakespeare’s plays.
Richard III met his end at the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485, marking the close of the House of York and the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat was a significant event in the Wars of the Roses.
Source: www.theguardian.com
