Justice, the title of the work of Harvard University scholar Michael Sandel, poses this question: what is the right thing to do?

It is an issue well worth exploring.

When Dee Poon Tai-ming was at the University of Science and Technology, studying biological science, he visited the Harvard website and listened to Sandel's lecture.

Now years later, it was Sandel whom he cited while debating right and wrong with school principal Ling Chi (Li Si-lan) in Hong Kong Repertory Theatre's drama Principle, in which he played head student Leung Kin-bok.

Sandel's philosophy may be too deep for a secondary student. But then secondary students these days can think critically and should be able to form an objective view about the reasonableness, or the lack thereof, of a school rule.

The head student Poon played isn't the "nerdy" type, but someone who likes to think, writes in the student newspaper, and has the courage to challenge (the principal's) authority. Poon's acting projected the image of a progressive student of the May Fourth Movement-era.

Poon's fascination with stage art began when he was in university. "This has everything to do with my character, and the turning point was when I started to study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. After studying biological science for three years, I felt that it was enough."

In university, Poon threw himself into drama creative work. After graduation, he finally realized that he should "live for my own interest, to go on stage to look for the fun in life."

"The road of art requires a persevering spirit and a healthy body and mind to keep looking for the room and possibility for improvement," he said.

Explaining why he enrolled at the academy, he said: "I wasn't willing to go immediately into society, find an uninteresting job and started to go with the flow, before I even get to properly understand the mainstream and non-mainstream values of this city."

He said: "Being an actor is more an identity than a profession. Becoming an actor is a road on which you must train yourself."

"A good actor must be able to be honest with himself, to search for a clear direction for a breakthrough, not afraid to make mistakes, not to lose himself, while keeping a sense of humor."

He hopes to be a candle flame in this city to contribute his part.

Terence Chang Cheuk-cheung is the retired headmaster of Diocesan Boys School

Dee Poon Tai-ming

Learning to live in creative drama