David Yip

{{Infobox person

| image = david yip 2022 1.jpg

| caption = Yip at the British Library in 2022

| birth_name = David Nicholas Yip

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|6|4|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Liverpool, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| othername =

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|playwright}}

| alma_mater = East 15 Acting School

| years_active = 1973–present

| spouse = Virginia Yip

| website = {{URL|davidyip.co.uk}}

| module = {{Infobox Chinese

| child = yes

| order = st

| c = 葉西園

| p = Yè Xīyuán

| j = Jip⁶ Sai¹ Jyun⁴

|mi=

}}

David Nicholas Yip{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0948118/bio |title=David Yip – Biography |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=13 July 2017}} ({{lang-zh|t=葉西園|p=Yè Xīyuán}}; born 4 June 1951) is a British actor and playwright. He gained prominence through his role in the BBC series The Chinese Detective (1981–1982){{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2009/mar/11/blogpost1 |title=The Chinese Detective starring David Yip was quality 1980s television drama |first=Dave |last=Hill |date=12 March 2009 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=8 October 2018}} as the first Chinese lead on British television.{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/475847/index.html|title=Chinese Detective, The (1981-82)|website=BFI Screenonline|author=Pak Ling-Wan|accessdate=8 February 2023}}

His films include A View to a Kill (1985), Ping Pong (1986), and Break (2020). Yip wrote and starred in the play Gold Mountain. On television, he appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (1989–1990), the CBBC series Spirit Warriors (2010), and the Sky Atlantic thriller Fortitude (2017–2018). He is also known for his voice work.

Yip has given talks and presented documentaries on the Chinese community in his hometown of Liverpool. In 2022, he was awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Essex{{Cite web|url=https://www.essex.ac.uk/news/2022/07/28/actor-david-yip-receives-honorary-degree-from-the-university-of-essex|title=Hollywood actor David Yip receives honorary degree|publisher=University of Essex|date=28 July 2022|accessdate=8 February 2023}} and Edge Hill University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/pioneering-chinese-actor-awarded-an-honorary-doctorate-in-recognition-of-his-groundbreaking-career/|title=Pioneering Chinese actor awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his groundbreaking career|publisher=Edge Hill University|date=21 July 2022|accessdate=8 February 2023}}

Early life

Yip was born in Liverpool to a Chinese father, a seaman from Canton, and an English mother from Liverpool. He was one of eight children and had a working class upbringing.{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2010/10/08/theatre-review-david-yip-stars-in-gold-mountain-at-liverpool-s-unity-theatre-99623-27427847/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707044300/http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2010/10/08/theatre-review-david-yip-stars-in-gold-mountain-at-liverpool-s-unity-theatre-99623-27427847/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2013 |title=David Yip stars in 'Gold Mountain' at Liverpool's Unity Theatre |date=8 October 2010 |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post}}{{Cite journal|url=http://banmarchive.org.uk/collections/mt/pdf/83_10_19.pdf|title=Interview with David Yip The Chinese Detective|journal=Marxism Today|first=Alan|last=Clarke|date=October 1983|accessdate=2 December 2021}}

After leaving school at 16, Yip worked as a shipping clerk for British Railways for 2 years. At 18, he was offered a job as an assistant stage manager by Teresa Collard at the Neptune Theatre. He participated in local youth productions while working at the Everyman, including one under the direction of Barry Kyle when he was visiting the Liverpool Playhouse. Yip's peers encouraged him to audition for drama school. He got into East 15 Acting School and went on to complete his training in 1973.{{Cite web|url=https://blazingminds.co.uk/exclusive-interview-david-yip-crime-drama-break/|title=Exclusive Interview with David Yip about 'Break'|website=Blazing Minds|first=Philip|last=Rogers|date=22 July 2020}}

Career

Yip began his career in theatre. He first appeared on television in an episode of the ITV game show Whodunnit? and the BBC television film Savages in 1975, and an episode of the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum in 1978. In 1979, Yip played Frank Chen in the science fiction series Quatermass, also on ITV, and had a small part in the Doctor Who story "Destiny of the Daleks".

From 1981 to 1982, Yip starred as the titular detective John Ho in the BBC police procedural The Chinese Detective, making him the first East Asian lead on British television. In a 2022 retrospective of 100 BBC gamechangers, the British Film Institute called Yip's performance "pensive and affecting".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/100-bbc-tv-gamechangers|title=100 BBC TV gamechangers|publisher=British Film Institute|author=Various|date=27 April 2022|accessdate=10 February 2023}} After watching him in the series, director Steven Spielberg cast Yip in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as the Jones' past companion Wu Han, marking Yip's feature film debut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theindyexperience.com/interviews/david_yip_interview.php|title=Interview with David Yip|website=The Indy Experience|first=Ralph|last=van den Broeck|date=2003|accessdate=10 February 2023}} This was followed by a supporting role as CIA liaison agent Chuck Lee in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill and a lead role as Mike Wong in the 1986 mystery comedy film Ping Pong.

Yip played Michael Choì in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside from 1989 to 1990. In 1990, he appeared as a contestant on Cluedo, facing off against comedian Tony Slattery. He starred in the 1993 BBC sitcom Every Silver Lining and appeared in the television adaptation of Wilde Justice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/every_silver_lining/|title=Every Silver Lining – BBC1 sitcom|website=British Comedy Guide|accessdate=8 February 2023}} This was followed by small roles in the films Goodbye Hong Kong (1994), Hamlet (1996), Fast Food (1998), and Entrapment (1999). He played Assad in the two-parter Arabian Nights, Merv in the film My Kingdom (2001), and Dr Pang in the CBBC series Oscar Charlie.

Yip starred alongside Chipo Chung and Gemma Chan in a production of Turandot. Yip wrote a play entitled Gold Mountain, based on his father's life. It was intended for the Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008 event, but was delayed due to writing problems. It premiered on 6 October 2010, at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool, and was performed again in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/interviews/theatre/off-west+end/E8831333466368/David+Yip+On+...+Revisiting+Gold+Mountain.html |title=David Yip On ... Revisiting 'Gold Mountain' |date=10 April 2012 |website=What's on Stage |access-date=8 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111900/http://www.whatsonstage.com/blackpool-theatre/news/04-2012/david-yip-on-revisiting-gold-mountain_4823.html |archive-date=4 March 2016}}

Also in 2010, Yip played Ding-Xiang in the CBBC series Spirit Warriors. In 2013, Yip joined the cast of feature film All That Remains{{cite web |url=http://allthatremainsthemovie.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/cast-interview-david-yip/ |title=Cast Interview: David Yip |date=26 April 2013 |website=All That Remains: production blog |access-date=8 October 2018}} which was released on 5 May 2016. He reunited with Gemma Chan from Turandot in the play Yellow Face at the Park Theatre and then National Theatre.

From 2017 to 2018, Yip returned to the National Theatre for The Great Wave, led the play Eastern Star at the Tara Theatre, and played Hong Mankyo in the Sky Atlantic psychological thriller Fortitude. He also had a voice role on the ABC Kids animated series Luo Bao Bei. He starred in the 2020 thriller film Break.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.heydaymagazine.co.uk/amp/2020/08/05/break-stars-terri-dwyer-and-david-yip/|title=we take a 'break' with stars terri dwyer and david yip|journal=Heyday Magazine|first=Ryan|last=Beal|date=5 August 2020|accessdate=10 February 2023}}

Personal life

Yip is a practising Nichiren Buddhist and member of the Soka Gakkai International. He lives in north Oxfordshire near Banbury{{Cite journal|url=https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/people/banburyshire-actor-who-has-rubbed-shoulders-with-daleks-indiana-jones-and-james-bond-achieves-a-new-highlight-in-his-amazing-career-3785065|title=Banburyshire actor who has rubbed shoulders with Daleks, Indiana Jones and James Bond achieves a new highlight in his amazing career|journal=Banbury Guardian|date=28 July 2022|accessdate=8 February 2023}} with his wife Virginia and their dog Buddy.{{cite web | url=https://davidyip.co.uk/biography/ | title=Biography }} His brother Stephen Yip stood as an independent candidate in the 2021 Liverpool mayoral election.

Yip only adopted his Chinese name, coined by friends, as an adult whilst working on a movie in Hong Kong.{{cite web |title=Chinese in Britain Radio Interviews |url=http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=CKEY7235377&library=ALL |website=British Library |access-date=19 August 2022}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1984 \| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom \| Wu Han \|
1985 \| A View to a Kill \| Chuck Lee \|
1986 \| Ping Pong \| Mike Wong \|
1987 \| Out of Order \| Policeman \|
1990 \| Blue Funnel \| Daniel \| Short film
1994 \| Goodbye Hong Kong \| Peter Ma \|
1996 \| Hamlet \| Sailor One \|
rowspan="2" \| 1999 \| Fast Food \| Mr Fortune \|
Entrapment \| Chief of Police \|
2000 \| Chinese Whispers \| {{n/a}} \| Director, writer Short film
2001 \| My Kingdom \| Merv \|
2005 \| Zoltan the Great \| Dak \| Short film
2008 \| Act of Grace \| Kai \|
2009 \| The School That Roared \| Winnie's Dad \|
2011 \| Re-Evolution \| Councillor \|
rowspan="2" \| 2016 \| The Sea, the God, the Man \| God \| Short film
All That Remains \| Noburu Nagai \|
rowspan="2" \| 2017 \| Dystopian: Lovesong \| Ian Dystop \| Short film
Emper \| Zhang \|
2018 \| Dim Sum \| Mr Chen \| Short film
2020 \| Break \| Vincent Qiang \|
rowspan="2" \| TBA \| Sigh of the Sea \| \|
Dream Hacker \| Wang Lei \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1984

| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

| Wu Han

1985

| A View to a Kill

| Chuck Lee

1986

| Ping Pong

| Mike Wong

1987

| Out of Order

| Policeman

1990

| Blue Funnel

| Daniel

| Short film

1994

| Goodbye Hong Kong

| Peter Ma

1996

| Hamlet

| Sailor One

rowspan="2" | 1999

| Fast Food

| Mr Fortune

Entrapment

| Chief of Police

2000

| Chinese Whispers

| {{n/a}}

| Director, writer
Short film

2001

| My Kingdom

| Merv

2005

| Zoltan the Great

| Dak

| Short film

2008

| Act of Grace

| Kai

2009

| The School That Roared

| Winnie's Dad

2011

| Re-Evolution

| Councillor

rowspan="2" | 2016

| The Sea, the God, the Man

| God

| Short film

All That Remains

| Noburu Nagai

rowspan="2" | 2017

| Dystopian: Lovesong

| Ian Dystop

| Short film

Emper

| Zhang

2018

| Dim Sum

| Mr Chen

| Short film

2020

| Break

| Vincent Qiang

rowspan="2" | TBA

| Sigh of the Sea

Dream Hacker

| Wang Lei

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1975 \| Whodunnit? \| Ray Hunt \| Episode: "Portrait in Black"
rowspan="2" \| 1978 \| Savages \| Kumai \| Television film
It Ain't Half Hot Mum \| Bandit \| Episode: "The Great Payroll Snatch"
rowspan="3" \| 1979 \| Doctor Who \| Veldan \| Destiny of the Daleks; 2 episodes
Quatermass \| rowspan="2" \| Frank Chen \| 2 episodes
The Quatermass Conclusion \| Television film
rowspan="3" \| 1980 \| Spy! \| Ito Ritsui \| Episode: "The Tokyo Ring"
The Cuckoo Waltz \| Mr Ling \| Episode: "The Neighbour"
The Mystery of the Disappearing Schoolgirls \| Quintus \| Television film
1981 \| Armchair Thriller \| Denny \| Episode: "The Chelsea Murders"
1981–1982 \| The Chinese Detective \| Detective Sergeant John Ho \| Lead role
1982 \| The Professionals \| Editor \| Episode: "Discovered in a Graveyard"
1983 \| Jackanory \| Storyteller \| 5 episodes
1985 \| The Caucasian Chalk Circle \| Simon \| Television film
1988 \| King and Castle \| Tony Chen \| Episode: "Dim Sums"
1989 \| Murder by Moonlight \| Chang \| Television film
1989–1991 \| Making Out \| Mr. Kim \| 3 episodes
1989–1990 \| Brookside \| Michael Choi \| 17 episodes
1991 \| Tatort \| Chow Hap-man \| Episode: "Die chinesische Methode"
1992 \| Rear Window \| Brilliant Chang / Narrator \| Episode: "White Girls on Dope"
1993 \| Every Silver Lining \| Leonard \| 6 episodes
1994 \| Wild Justice \| Wong \| Television film
1995 \| Rich Deceiver \| Ricky Ramon \| Television film
rowspan="2" \| 1996 \| Thief Takers \| Jimmy Mak \| 2 episodes
Bugs \| Chaku \| Episode: "...Must Come Down "
2000 \| Arabian Nights \| Assad \| Miniseries
2002 \| Oscar Charlie \| Dr Pang \| 6 episodes
2003 \| The Bill \| Li Chen \| Episode: "100: Under the Thumb"
2006 \| Casualty \| Jiang Guang \| Episode: "No Way Back"
2008 \| ChuckleVision \| Chives the Butler \| Episode: "The Mystery of Little-Under-Standing"
2010 \| Spirit Warriors \| Ding-Xiang \| 6 episodes
2013 \| Holby City \| Raymond Lo \| 2 episodes
2014 \| 24: Live Another Day \| President Wei \| 2 episodes
2017–2018 \| Fortitude \| Hong Mankyo \| 6 episodes (series 2–3)
rowspan="2" \| 2018 \| Lucky Man \| Tai Jing \| Episode: "The Sins of the Father"
Luo Bao Bei \| Grandpa \| Voice role; 26 episodes
2019 \| Porters \| Dalai Lama \| Episode: "Wedding & Perfume"
2021 \| Midsomer Murders \| Fergus Rooney \| Episode: "Scarecrow Murders"
rowspan="2" \| 2022 \| The Capture \| Xian Xiaodong \| Episode: "Made in China"
Pennyworth \| Zeya Khin \| 2 episodes
2025 \| Wolf King \| Huth, Hamwell \| Voice

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1975

| Whodunnit?

| Ray Hunt

| Episode: "Portrait in Black"

rowspan="2" | 1978

| Savages

| Kumai

| Television film

It Ain't Half Hot Mum

| Bandit

| Episode: "The Great Payroll Snatch"

rowspan="3" | 1979

| Doctor Who

| Veldan

| Destiny of the Daleks; 2 episodes

Quatermass

| rowspan="2" | Frank Chen

| 2 episodes

The Quatermass Conclusion

| Television film

rowspan="3" | 1980

| Spy!

| Ito Ritsui

| Episode: "The Tokyo Ring"

The Cuckoo Waltz

| Mr Ling

| Episode: "The Neighbour"

The Mystery of the Disappearing Schoolgirls

| Quintus

| Television film

1981

| Armchair Thriller

| Denny

| Episode: "The Chelsea Murders"

1981–1982

| The Chinese Detective

| Detective Sergeant John Ho

| Lead role

1982

| The Professionals

| Editor

| Episode: "Discovered in a Graveyard"

1983

| Jackanory

| Storyteller

| 5 episodes

1985

| The Caucasian Chalk Circle

| Simon

| Television film

1988

| King and Castle

| Tony Chen

| Episode: "Dim Sums"

1989

| Murder by Moonlight

| Chang

| Television film

1989–1991

| Making Out

| Mr. Kim

| 3 episodes

1989–1990

| Brookside

| Michael Choi

| 17 episodes

1991

| Tatort

| Chow Hap-man

| Episode: "Die chinesische Methode"

1992

| Rear Window

| Brilliant Chang / Narrator

| Episode: "White Girls on Dope"

1993

| Every Silver Lining

| Leonard

| 6 episodes

1994

| Wild Justice

| Wong

| Television film

1995

| Rich Deceiver

| Ricky Ramon

| Television film

rowspan="2" | 1996

| Thief Takers

| Jimmy Mak

| 2 episodes

Bugs

| Chaku

| Episode: "...Must Come Down "

2000

| Arabian Nights

| Assad

| Miniseries

2002

| Oscar Charlie

| Dr Pang

| 6 episodes

2003

| The Bill

| Li Chen

| Episode: "100: Under the Thumb"

2006

| Casualty

| Jiang Guang

| Episode: "No Way Back"

2008

| ChuckleVision

| Chives the Butler

| Episode: "The Mystery of Little-Under-Standing"

2010

| Spirit Warriors

| Ding-Xiang

| 6 episodes

2013

| Holby City

| Raymond Lo

| 2 episodes

2014

| 24: Live Another Day

| President Wei

| 2 episodes

2017–2018

| Fortitude

| Hong Mankyo

| 6 episodes (series 2–3)

rowspan="2" | 2018

| Lucky Man

| Tai Jing

| Episode: "The Sins of the Father"

Luo Bao Bei

| Grandpa

| Voice role; 26 episodes

2019

| Porters

| Dalai Lama

| Episode: "Wedding & Perfume"

2021

| Midsomer Murders

| Fergus Rooney

| Episode: "Scarecrow Murders"

rowspan="2" | 2022

| The Capture

| Xian Xiaodong

| Episode: "Made in China"

Pennyworth

| Zeya Khin

| 2 episodes

2025

| Wolf King

| Huth, Hamwell

| Voice

=Video games=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1999 \| Silver \| Cagen \|
2001 \| Three Kingdoms: Fate of the Dragon \| \|
2003 \| Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior \| Ko'vash \|
2010 \| Just Cause 2 \| \|
2012 \| Brink \| Additional voices \|
2013 \| Lego City Undercover \| Henrik Kowalski \|
2017 \| The Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game \| Master Wu \|
2018 \| Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom \| Pugnacius \| English version

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1999

| Silver

| Cagen

2001

| Three Kingdoms: Fate of the Dragon

2003

| Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior

| Ko'vash

2010

| Just Cause 2

2012

| Brink

| Additional voices

2013

| Lego City Undercover

| Henrik Kowalski

2017

| The Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game

| Master Wu

2018

| Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

| Pugnacius

| English version

Stage

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan="2" \| 1973 \| Decameron '73 \| Storyteller \| Roundhouse, London / Manchester Opera House, Manchester
The Man From The East \| Boy \| Europe tour
1974 \| Jack and the Beanstalk \| \| Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
rowspan="2" \| 1975 \| Jingo \| Soldier \| Aldwych Theatre, London
Raindog \| Monk / Narrator \| Roundhouse, London
rowspan="3" \| 1976 \| Noah \| Shem \| rowspan="2" \| Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester
Twelfth Night \| Sailor / Attendant
Antony and Cleopatra \| Alexas \| rowspan="4" \| Young Vic, London{{Cite web\|url=https://www.photostage.co.uk/stock-photo/website/search/detail-0_00102955.html\|title=TOBIAS AND THE ANGEL by James Bridie\|website=Photostage\|date=1977\|accessdate=8 February 2023}}
rowspan="4" \| 1977 \| Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead \| Tragedian / Ambassador
Romeo and Juliet \| Benvolio
Tobias and the Angel \| Tobias
Follow the Star \| Angel Gabriel \| Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester / Westminster Theatre
1978 \| Measure for Measure \| Lucio \| Avon Touring Theatre Company
rowspan="2" \| 1983 \| Sinbad the Sailor \| Sinbad \| Theatre Royal Stratford East
Buried Treasure \| Toby Wong \| Tricycle Theatre, London
1983–1984 \| Peter Pan \| Peter Pan \| Darlington Civic Theatre, Darlington
1984 \| The Knack \| \| Tour{{Cite web\|url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1167528/poster-lanyon-iain/\|title=David Yip in The Knack – Poster\|website=V&A Collections\|first=Iain\|last=Lanyon\|date=1984\|accessdate=8 February 2023}}
1985 \| The Wizard of Oz \| Straw Man \| Kings Theatre, Portsmouth
1986 \| Made in Bangkok \| Net \| Aldwych Theatre, London
1987 \| Julius Caesar \| Various \| Bristol Old Vic, Bristol{{Cite web\|url=https://bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk/people/david-yip\|title=David Yip\|website=BBA Shakespeare\|accessdate=8 February 2023}}
rowspan="2" \| 1988 \| Don't Go Away Mad \| \| Donmar Warehouse, London
Ear, Nose and Throat \| \| Tour
1990 \| Frauds \| Johnny Sun \| Abbey Theatre, Dublin{{Cite web\|url=https://www.irishplayography.com/person.aspx?personid=35377\|title=David Yip\|website=Irish Playography\|accessdate=8 February 2023}}
rowspan="2" \| 1991 \| The King and I \| The King \| Manchester Opera House, Manchester
Mother Goose \| Mother Goose \| Shaw Theatre, London
1992 \| White Woman Street \| Yeshov \| Bush Theatre, London / Abbey Theatre, Dublin
1993 \| Three Japanese Women \| Mr Tanaka \| Cockpit Theatre, London
rowspan="2" \| 1994 \| The Life of the World to Come \| Dr Ken Makoto \| Almeida Theatre, London
Aladdin \| Aladdin \| Theatre Royal, Brighton{{Cite web\|url=https://www.pantoarchive.com/1994-handbills?lightbox=dataItem-ir2eqnez\|title=1994 pantomime handbills: Theatre Royal Brighton\|website=Panto Archive\|accessdate=8 February 2023}}
1997 \| Hamlet \| Claudius \| Singapore Repertory Theatre, Singapore
2006 \| King Lear \| Albany / Gloucester \| Royal Shakespeare Company / Yellow Earth Theatre international tour
2008 \| Turandot \| Fi Jeh \| Hampstead Theatre, London
rowspan="2" \| 2009 \| The King and I \| The Kralahome \| Royal Albert Hall, London
Chun Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu \| Older Chun Yi \| London Coliseum
2010 \| Gold Mountain \| Yee Lui \| Co-writer Unity Theatre, Liverpool
2011 \| Fit and Proper People \| Frankie Wong \| Soho Theatre, London
2012 \| The Bomb: A Partial History \| Various \| Tricycle Theatre, London
2013–2014 \| Yellow Face \| HYH \| Park Theatre and National Theatre, London
2017 \| The Great Wave \| Takishi / Jiro \| National Theatre, London
2018 \| Eastern Star \| U Nay Min \| Tara Theatre, London

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan="2" | 1973

| Decameron '73

| Storyteller

| Roundhouse, London / Manchester Opera House, Manchester

The Man From The East

| Boy

| Europe tour

1974

| Jack and the Beanstalk

| Citizens Theatre, Glasgow

rowspan="2" | 1975

| Jingo

| Soldier

| Aldwych Theatre, London

Raindog

| Monk / Narrator

| Roundhouse, London

rowspan="3" | 1976

| Noah

| Shem

| rowspan="2" | Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester

Twelfth Night

| Sailor / Attendant

Antony and Cleopatra

| Alexas

| rowspan="4" | Young Vic, London{{Cite web|url=https://www.photostage.co.uk/stock-photo/website/search/detail-0_00102955.html|title=TOBIAS AND THE ANGEL by James Bridie|website=Photostage|date=1977|accessdate=8 February 2023}}

rowspan="4" | 1977

| Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

| Tragedian / Ambassador

Romeo and Juliet

| Benvolio

Tobias and the Angel

| Tobias

Follow the Star

| Angel Gabriel

| Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester / Westminster Theatre

1978

| Measure for Measure

| Lucio

| Avon Touring Theatre Company

rowspan="2" | 1983

| Sinbad the Sailor

| Sinbad

| Theatre Royal Stratford East

Buried Treasure

| Toby Wong

| Tricycle Theatre, London

1983–1984

| Peter Pan

| Peter Pan

| Darlington Civic Theatre, Darlington

1984

| The Knack

| Tour{{Cite web|url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1167528/poster-lanyon-iain/|title=David Yip in The Knack – Poster|website=V&A Collections|first=Iain|last=Lanyon|date=1984|accessdate=8 February 2023}}

1985

| The Wizard of Oz

| Straw Man

| Kings Theatre, Portsmouth

1986

| Made in Bangkok

| Net

| Aldwych Theatre, London

1987

| Julius Caesar

| Various

| Bristol Old Vic, Bristol{{Cite web|url=https://bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk/people/david-yip|title=David Yip|website=BBA Shakespeare|accessdate=8 February 2023}}

rowspan="2" | 1988

| Don't Go Away Mad

| Donmar Warehouse, London

Ear, Nose and Throat

| Tour

1990

| Frauds

| Johnny Sun

| Abbey Theatre, Dublin{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishplayography.com/person.aspx?personid=35377|title=David Yip|website=Irish Playography|accessdate=8 February 2023}}

rowspan="2" | 1991

| The King and I

| The King

| Manchester Opera House, Manchester

Mother Goose

| Mother Goose

| Shaw Theatre, London

1992

| White Woman Street

| Yeshov

| Bush Theatre, London / Abbey Theatre, Dublin

1993

| Three Japanese Women

| Mr Tanaka

| Cockpit Theatre, London

rowspan="2" | 1994

| The Life of the World to Come

| Dr Ken Makoto

| Almeida Theatre, London

Aladdin

| Aladdin

| Theatre Royal, Brighton{{Cite web|url=https://www.pantoarchive.com/1994-handbills?lightbox=dataItem-ir2eqnez|title=1994 pantomime handbills: Theatre Royal Brighton|website=Panto Archive|accessdate=8 February 2023}}

1997

| Hamlet

| Claudius

| Singapore Repertory Theatre, Singapore

2006

| King Lear

| Albany / Gloucester

| Royal Shakespeare Company / Yellow Earth Theatre international tour

2008

| Turandot

| Fi Jeh

| Hampstead Theatre, London

rowspan="2" | 2009

| The King and I

| The Kralahome

| Royal Albert Hall, London

Chun Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu

| Older Chun Yi

| London Coliseum

2010

| Gold Mountain

| Yee Lui

| Co-writer
Unity Theatre, Liverpool

2011

| Fit and Proper People

| Frankie Wong

| Soho Theatre, London

2012

| The Bomb: A Partial History

| Various

| Tricycle Theatre, London

2013–2014

| Yellow Face

| HYH

| Park Theatre and National Theatre, London

2017

| The Great Wave

| Takishi / Jiro

| National Theatre, London

2018

| Eastern Star

| U Nay Min

| Tara Theatre, London

Audio

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2004 \| The Inventor of Fireworks \| \| BBC Radio 3
rowspan="2" \| 2007 \| Dalek Empire: The Fearless \| Kennedy \| rowspan="4" \| Big Finish Productions
Doctor Who: The Girl Who Never Was \| Curly / Tourist / Inspector Yew
2013 \| Gallifrey \| Hector

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2004

| The Inventor of Fireworks

| BBC Radio 3

rowspan="2" | 2007

| Dalek Empire: The Fearless

| Kennedy

| rowspan="4" | Big Finish Productions