An actor said he is “living in the moment” as he embarks on his first theatre tour after being discovered on TikTok.

Sonny Monaghan was cast as the alternative lead in the hit musical Dear Evan Hansen after he sent in a video on the social media platform.

Now, the 21-year-old is to tour the country in the production, including a homecoming performance at the Theatre Royal Brighton in October.

Sonny, from Eastbourne, said: “The first show was last Thursday and it was wild – the nerves were there but by the second and third show my performance stepped up.

“It’s a clever way of finding new people. Everyone wants to find someone who hasn’t been seen before.

“There’s loads of talented people who haven’t had a chance to get to drama school who are performing for their lives.

“I would love to work in the West End at some point but I’m living in this moment.

“It’s an incredible thing that’s going on so I want to experience it and be in it. It’s hopefully the start of a great career.”

Sonny was raised in a musical household through his father, who was a singer, but had never given any thought to musical theatre or acting until his final year of secondary school.

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After singing renditions of Dear Evan Hansen with friends he said he was “hooked straight away” through the songs.

He went on to study theatre at East Sussex College, formerly Sussex Downs College, in Lewes before going to work in a European holiday resort as a vocalist.

Sonny auditioned for the West End production of Dear Evan Hansen but did not get the role and felt he was “not being seen” until the TikTok search.

After sending a video to the open casting call and getting an audition, he was cast at the alternate lead for the upcoming tour. He will play Evan Hansen in every matinee performance on the tour – including at the Theatre Royal.

He said: “I went into Brighton a couple of weeks after we announced the cast and there were posters outside the Theatre Royal. It’s surreal but really nice to see.

“I’ve got a lot of friends and family coming to the show in Brighton. My college is having a trip and all the students will be coming to see me.

“It’s a show that will connect with people in Brighton. The characters are human and flawed and their flaws are very clear. You can pick apart who these characters are.

“It’s the story that we have to tell, especially in the time we live in it’s very important.”

Dear Evan Hansen is at the Theatre Royal from October 15 to October 19.