Hi
I have a part in Nick Darke's play High Water, which will soon be performed in Lancashire and Cumbria. I play the part of Slinger, a Cornish man in his sixties who retrieves wreckage from the shoreline. I've downloaded accent examples from the BBC site and other places but would be delighted if someone with the time and know-how (wav or mp3 file) could take the trouble to record a few lines from the play in a genuine Cornish accent and email it to me. I know this is a big cheek to ask, but I really would like to get the accent as faithful as I can. In this hope, here's a passage from the play:
"Storms at sea dun' impress me, boy, no more'n for what they can yield. You can shut your eyes an' imagine bigger waves'n what God can conjure, boy. You can shut your eyes an' imagine taller trees'n what God can grow. God's miracles lie in the subtleties a nature, boy, when that sea, out there, is as flat as a pea on a plate, not so much as a catlap when water touches rock, when that sea, deeper an' broader'n a preacher's mind, is lyin' there, hundred thousand million billion tons a water. Still. Flat. Then you try an' imagine it flatter. You can't do it. Thass subtle, boy. Thass a damn miracle, boy. When a gale blaw, it blaw from one direction, North, South, East or West. When a breeze stroke the sea it whisper, from every corner of the earth. An' thass the only time I ever come down this beach juss to look."
I'd be grateful for other advice too on key elements of pronunciation, rhythm etc.
A big thanks to Steve for wanting to get the accent right. So often a Cornish Accent is portrayed as just a WestCountry accent, which as we all know is wrong. I wish I could help as my accent is quite broad, but I do not have the necessary to help. I hope that you find someone, and good luck.
Try getting in touch with Carl Grose through o-region (google it!) He was a great friend of Nick's and if anyone can help you it would be him. Carl has performed many of Nick Darke's characters. He appeared in the short film of the same name directed by Nick's son Henry. Getting hold of a copy of it might be possible through boatshed films (google it) which I believe is still the production company Henry runs with his family. You might also try the Cornwall Film Festival for contacts.
Good luck with the accent, it is more tricky than it appears
But we need to help Steve work out when his broad Cornish accent is beginning to sound authentic.
i) When West End men smirk and West End ladies roll their eyes, you're on the right track.
ii) When Europeans recognise you, but Westminster tries to force you into a union against your will with someone from Devon, you're coming along nicely.
iii) And when the Prince of Wales picks your pocket for his pin money, you'll know you've arrived.
Could you explain why? Is the production taking place within Cornwall? If not I can see why it might be an issue but you haven't really made that clear. If it's only being performed in Cumbria and Lancashire then I accept your point
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