Finding a monster and magic
EALING-BORN Sonny Poon Tip is a young actor and rising star.
He is soon to be performing as Demetrius in the West End’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and is currently following in the footsteps of some of the world’s most wellknown actors; the likes of Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren and Chiwetel Ejiofor as he performs with the National Youth Theatre in their adaption of Charles Dickens – Great Expectations, and a modern adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein throughout November, December and in to the new year.
Twenty-threeyear-old Sonny grew up in Hanwell and like most kids, tried many different hobbies, however acting was the thing that Sonny stuck with as it was the one thing that he never got bored of. He has stuck with it for over ten years, and says: ‘I am continuously finding new reasons to keep pursuing acting.
‘I love connecting with stories and experiences that are not my own. I have a thing about wanting to experience as much as I can in life, to make me as full a human as possible, and acting aids me in doing that.’
Throughout the years, Sonny has performed in a string of youth theatre shows, with various UK theatre, young companies which has helped him to develop his skills as an actor.
This year he was lucky enough to make his professional acting debut in Three Sisters at the Almeida Theatre giving him more self confidence to go for bigger roles, Sonny adds: ‘There’s always doubts but when things are happening it’s nice to remind yourself that others are believing in you and are willing to give you the opportunity.’
The journey has not always been easy for Sonny but he says that it has most definitely been rewarding and that his dream role would be to play Edmund in King Lear some day or anything in the realm of Philip Ridley.
He is a big fan of Andrew Scott and is inspired by his unconventional route in to the industry and how he has made it work for himself and adds: ‘I hope I can follow in a similar path.’
Sonny isn’t quite sure what’s next for him once he has finished his stint in the West End, but he hopes it’s ‘something good’ and says that he most definitely wouldn’t turn down a role on TV or in a film.
And to any aspiring actors, Sonny says, ‘keep finding the joy in it all, it’s supposed to be fun!’
Sonny’s up-and-coming performances:
■ Great Expectations at Southwark Playhouse: runs until Thursday, November 28 at
■ Frankenstein at Southwark Playhouse: Friday, November 29
■ A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Criterion Theatre: Friday, December 6 until Friday, January 17, 2020