Actor enjoys rave reviews on Broadway

Thomas Pickles, who is a former student at Burnley Youth Theatre, is appearing in the play Blink.

It is part of the critically acclaimed Brits Off Broadway Festival which sees New York host the most innovative and provocative shows from British theatre.

New York Times reviewer Neil Genzlinger has described Blink as being “sweetly played”.

The bittersweet tale of love and loneliness is being staged at the 59E59 Theatre for three months and Thomas, who is just 23, is loving the experience which is the opportunity of a lifetime.

There is only one other person in the play, actress Lizzie Watson, and the duo are sharing the limelight.

Thomas flew out to the States fresh from staging his own play, Dead Party Animals, in London.

Not only did the hilarious one-man show, based on his nights out in Burnley, win the inaugural Adrian Pagan Playwright Award, it was also nominated for three offwestend.com awards.

A former pupil of Colne’s Primet High School, Thomas’ family live in the Marsden Park area of Nelson.

Before flying out to New York Thomas toured the UK with a production of Blink.

He has never been out of work since graduating from the Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, Kent, with a BA Honours degree in acting almost two years ago.

He has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in episodes of the television shows Casualty and Doctors.