Using your voiceUsing your voice to build a character

When choosing a voice for a role, you need to study the script and the playwright’s description of the character. There are several things to consider.

Age

• Is the character young, old or middle-aged?
• Would their voice be deep and mature or young and light?

Personality

• What kind of person is the character, are they shy and quiet or loud and domineering?

Accent

• Is the character from a specific place? Wherever they're from, you'll need to master the correct accent.
• You can also use Received Pronunciation (RP), which is the standard ‘neutral’ English accent, if the character’s accent isn’t specified.

Mannerisms

• Should the character have specific vocal mannerisms, eg a nervous cough or giggle, a booming laugh or a squeaky tone?

Register

• Does the character speak with a low or high register? Usually, low registers are used to show softness and kindness and are used by mature characters.

Type of performance

• Is the play a comedy or a tragedy? Your vocal choices must blend in with the overall feel of the play.
• Is your performance a vocal one only? Remember, if the audience can't see you, you can’t rely on facial expressions or body movement to enhance the dialogue.
• Are you providing a voice-over or narration? If so, you’ll need to ‘overdo’ your vocal work slightly, making sure that it conveys as much as possible to the listener.

Think about a character of your choice from the world of theatre or film. How did the actor make the role their own? Think about how Michael Gambon’s vocal performance as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films differs from that of Richard Harris, his predecessor in the role. Your voice is unique so the voice you give your character should be unique too.