The BWW Q&A: WAR HORSE's Sion Daniel Young!

Sion Daniel Young is playing Albert in War Horse at the New London Theatre - so we decided to put him in the spotlight and put him through the BWW Q&A...

Tell us a little bit about the show...
The play takes place around the time of the First World War and is the story of a boy, Albert, and his horse, Joey. Albert and Joey have an incredible bond which leads Albert to go and search for Joey after he is taken away to join the cavalry and fight in the war. The play follows their individual journeys as Albert desperately seeks to be reunited with his best friend.

How do you feel about stepping into something so iconic, and your thoughts on your new role?
It's an absolute privilege to be a part of a story that means so much to so many people all over the world. I don't see the play's success as a pressure; we're all very aware, as a cast, of our responsibility to continue telling this story the way it deserves to be told. As for playing Albert, from the minute I left the theatre after seeing the play a few years ago, I knew that I wanted to play the role. His journey is incredible, but the main thing that interested me was
his relationship with Joey. I'd never seen anything like it on screen or stage - truly unique.

When were you happiest?
When I got the phone call from my agent saying that I was being offered the role of Albert. It was something we'd discussed when we first met years ago, so it was a great thing for us to share and showed me that hard work and determination really does pay off.

What is your greatest fear?
Disappointing my family and friends.

What is your earliest memory?
Playing on our garden slide with my big sister.

Which living person do you most admire, and why?
I have to choose two - my parents. If it wasn't for their support there's no way I'd be doing what I do today.

Where would you like to live?
Back in Cardiff. I enjoy living in London but I absolutely intend on moving back home to Wales in the future.

What makes you unhappy?
People who feel helpless.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Currently, "I'm hungry!"

What is the best job you've done?
War Horse, without a shadow of a doubt.

Who is your best friend in theatre?
Anyone who brings sweets to my dressing room.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I'd love to see what my parents were like at my age.

Where would you most like to be right now?
On a beach, in the sun, with friends, having a barbeque and some cold beers.

After spending her formative years reading books and ending up with a Masters degree in English literature from King's College London, it was inevitable that Carrie should be a journalist. Her pure and simple delight in the art-form of musical theatre led to the Guardian asking her to be their West End Girl. Since then, she's picked up a PhD, and also written for many other UK publications, including the Times and the Independent. She has many eclectic loves, including sport, karaoke, reality television, MMORPGs, three-volume Victorian novels, the British seaside, embroidery and Veronica Mars.

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