Leeds actor and star of Channel 4 drama to take lead in new play Under the Sun
Leeds-based actor Tyler Pickles has been cast in the lead role of a new play called Under the Sun which will take place literally under Luke Jerram’s sun Helios installation, currently at Wakefield Exchange (WX) this August.
The role, Alvi, sees Pickles play a young gay man trying to juggle his rapidly approaching wedding while fixing his fraught relationship with the mum who made him homeless.
Pickles says of the new drama, "I think this story comes at a challenging time for the country when acceptance and empathy are suddenly not always the norm. ‘Under the Sun’ steps in as a welcome reminder of what it means to be human, no matter our differences."
The story, also featuring a host of Wakefield based actors and creatives, also touches on the recent and rising hostility reported by trans and gender diverse communities, focusing on Caelan, a teenager who is having to deal with parents who are less than accepting, and a shift in culture that leaves them feeling alone and vulnerable.
Ultimately, the play carries a hopeful message that, while not everything can be easily fixed, there is a way forward.
“Over time. Again and again. Things expand, we grow,” said Alvi in the play as he tries to offer Caelan some hope.
“Our, like, humanness gets bigger. We go for the sun. But we get afraid too.”
Pickles, who made his TV debut last year as Liam in Channel 4’s Dreamers, also runs his own theatre company, Rebel Roots Theatre. Dedicated to making bold and accessible theatre, the company offers classes supporting and developing emerging artists, particularly those from working class backgrounds. These are values shared by Pickles and the makers of Under the Sun.
“I think projects like this are so vital to the local arts scene in providing opportunities for emerging talent,” says Pickles. “A prime example being Eleanor (who plays Caelan), who is a joy to work with and a prime example of why these opportunities should exist for early careers.”
Written and Directed by Steven Busfield, and produced by Busfield’s company Empath Theatre CIC, Under the Sun is a sequel to Alvi’s story, which was first told in The Man in the Moon and originally staged in 2019 under Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon sculpture. The play is made possible thanks to support from Wakefield Council.
According to the dedicated Helios website, the sculpture measures seven metres in diameter and features photography of the sun’s surface at “an approximate scale of 1:200 million”. The sculpture is internally lit, creating a glow that has illuminated venues across the world during its ongoing tour, from Jubilee Pool in Bristol, UK, through to the Borneo Cultures Museum, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Helios is currently at Wakefield Exchange (WX) until September 6, 2026.
Under the Sun Performance Dates and Times:
Tuesday 18 August, 2:30pm – SEND Matinee
Saturday 22 August, 3:00pm – Family Matinee
Saturday 22 August, 7:30pm – Evening Performance featuring guest performances from Yew Tree Arts.
Tickets and more information are available at the link: https://wxbooking.co.uk/events/77/details