'It's re-instilled my belief in myself': To Kill a Mockingbird star Dylan Malyn after Leeds Playhouse success
Following an acclaimed run at Leeds Playhouse, Welsh actor Dylan Malyn speaks to the YEP about earning a prestigious Stage Debut Award nomination for To Kill A Mockingbird, trusting his instincts, and why he deliberately avoided watching the classic film version
For any actor making their professional stage debut, stepping into a landmark production is both a dream and a formidable challenge.
For actor Dylan Malyn, taking on Aaron Sorkin’s acclaimed West End and touring adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird didn't just mark his professional arrival - it earned him a prestigious nomination at The Stage Debut Awards.
Recognised in the Best Performer in a Play category, Malyn’s breakout turn in the American classic has placed him alongside the UK’s most exciting emerging theatrical talent.
Yet for Malyn, the national recognition carries a far deeper personal significance after the rigorous demands of taking on such iconic material.
"To be nominated for a Stage Debut Award for a show that meant so much to me is completely surreal," says Malyn. "It’s re-instilled my belief in myself. When you’re starting out, there’s always that underlying self-doubt about whether you belong in these spaces or if you’re doing the work justice.
“To have national recognition like this for my very first professional stage role is hugely validating."
Stepping into a story as culturally revered as To Kill a Mockingbird comes with immense expectation.
However, when preparing for the audition process and eventual run, Malyn made a conscious artistic choice to distance himself from previous interpretations - most notably Gregory Peck’s Oscar-winning 1962 film adaptation.
"I made a very deliberate decision early on not to watch the movie," Malyn explains. "When a story is that famous, it’s so easy to subconsciously mimic a performance that’s already etched into popular culture. I wanted to come at Aaron Sorkin’s script with fresh eyes, to make choices that felt organic and truthful to me rather than trying to replicate what someone else did sixty years ago.
“Bringing a story as timeless and vital as Mockingbird to audiences every night was a massive responsibility, but doing it alongside such a phenomenal cast allowed us to make it our own."
That journey included a memorable run at Leeds Playhouse, where the production played to packed houses.
For Malyn, performing in front of Yorkshire audiences added a unique energy to the tour, pointing to the city’s passionate theatregoers and thriving cultural scene as a highlight of the run.
"Performing in Leeds was incredible," he reflects. "The creative energy in the city and the warmth from the audience really landed with us on stage.
“Stepping onto major stages across the country is always special, but the reaction and support we felt in Leeds was unbelievable."
Hosted annually by The Stage, The Stage Debut Awards are the only national awards dedicated entirely to celebrating breakthrough theatre talent across the UK with the winners announced at a star-studded ceremony in London later this month.
Regardless of the outcome on awards night, Malyn views the milestone as the beginning of a long chapter rather than a destination - and a testament to the power of trusting your instincts on stage.