Actor praises ‘thriving’ amateur dramatics scene

Sonny Monaghan was cast following an open call for applicants on TikTok

A musical theatre performer from East Sussex says a "thriving" amateur dramatics scene is helping improve accessibility in the industry.

Eastbourne's Sonny Monaghan was given a role in the first UK tour of musical Dear Evan Hansen following an open call for applicants on TikTok.

He says he is from a working-class family and that the industry is "not all that accessible for people with similar backgrounds".

Mr Monaghan credits social media and "a thriving am-dram community" in Eastbourne, Bexhill, and the surrounding towns for helping people who are not "going to auditions in London" or "getting seen by all the casting agents".

'A lot of privilege'

Alex Adams, the owner of the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne and co-producer at The Rattonians amateur dramatic company, says the town has a "particularly strong am-dram core running through it" which is ‘"unusual" compared to other areas.

He says it gives young people "a real exposure" to professional theatre and the "adrenaline of being on a professional stage".

Mr Monaghan, who was cast to play the title role as an alternate, explained that there was "quite a lot of privilege" that came with being in musical theatre.

The actor, who has an agent and has had professional roles, studied musical theatre at college in Lewes rather than at a drama school - which he said would have been "financially taxing"

About 2,000 people submitted videos to apply to audition for a part in Dear Evan Hansen, with 36 being invited for face-to-face interviews.

Mr Monaghan believes "multiple" people from the 36 given auditions were from Eastbourne.