At the recent screening of the mystery-thriller Black Church Bay during the Iris Prize Festival in Cardiff, actor Tom Cullen took the stage to explain why his latest role carries weight far beyond the screen. Known for his work on Downton Abbey and House of the Dragon Cullen described the honour of portraying Barry, a teacher whose secret liaison threatens to upend the fragile equilibrium of a tight-knit Welsh community. The festival, now in its 20th year, provides a platform for LGBTQ+ stories from around the globe, and Cullen’s appearance underscored the event’s mission to amplify voices that are often relegated to the margins.
Why representation matters to Tom Cullen
For Cullen, the decision to inhabit a closeted gay teacher was guided by the same empathy he applies to any character. He recalled his earlier experience in the 2011 drama Weekend where he spent weeks interviewing gay friends to capture authentic lived experience. “People tend to pigeonhole queer cinema,” he warned, “but these two films show the spectrum and diversity that can be found.” Cullen insists that LGBTQ+ representation is not a checkbox but a responsibility, requiring rigorous research and a willingness to listen. By treating Barry’s inner conflict with the same nuance afforded to heterosexual roles, he hopes to broaden audience perception and encourage more layered storytelling in mainstream British film.
Black Church Bay: a dark tale set in Wales
The screenplay, described by Cullen as “extraordinary” and “unusually dark for the UK”, follows Barry’s desperate attempts to preserve his façade after an illicit weekend with a younger man named Jasper. Set against the striking yet foreboding backdrop of Anglesey, the narrative weaves a tension between idyllic scenery and the crushing weight of community expectations. Through Barry’s spiral, the film explores the cost of secrecy, the fragility of reputation, and the violence that can erupt when personal truth clashes with collective norms. Cullen praised the script for refusing easy resolutions, noting that its complexity was a key draw for an actor seeking a challenging role.
Behind the camera: Rhys Marc Jones and the Anglesey landscape
Writer-director Rhys Marc Jones envisioned Black Church Bay as a “fantasy that becomes a nightmare”, deliberately choosing locations that could shift from breathtakingly beautiful to unsettlingly oppressive. Anglesey’s rolling hills and isolated villages offered the perfect canvas; Jones explained that the island “can be absolutely stunning but has a foreboding quality” that mirrors Barry’s internal turmoil. His partner, Paix Robinson, highlighted the personal resonance of filming in Wales, a place where they once married and spent holidays. By anchoring the story in real places rather than generic sets, the film gains a palpable sense of place that enriches its thematic depth.
Location as character
Jones’s commitment to authenticity extended to the production schedule, with shoots timed to capture the island’s shifting light. The crew often found themselves working late into evenings when local shops closed at 19:00, forcing the cast to improvise meals such as instant noodles. These constraints, while tough, reinforced the film’s atmospheric tension, reminding everyone on set that the landscape itself was a silent participant in Barry’s unraveling.
On-set dynamics with Joe Locke
Sharing the screen with Cullen is rising star Joe Locke best known for his role as Charlie Spring in the Netflix series Heartstopper. Locke, a native of the Isle of Man, found Anglesey’s island vibe reminiscent of home, noting that “everyone speaks Welsh, but the feel is similar to the Manx landscape.” Their characters, Jasper and Barry, navigate a volatile power imbalance that demanded a delicate balance of trust. Both actors emphasized that their chemistry sparked instantly during the screen test, allowing them to support each other through the film’s most intense moments. Locke praised Cullen’s professionalism, describing him as “an absolute joy to work with,” while Cullen highlighted the mutual respect that made the portrayals feel genuine.
Iris Prize Festival and the wider impact
The screening of Black Church Bay at the Iris Prize Festival adds to a burgeoning roster of LGBTQ+ cinema gaining critical attention. The festival, a collaboration with BAFTA Cymru, runs for a week each October, showcasing films that push boundaries and celebrate diversity. In the same edition, filmmaker Luís Hindman secured a £40,000 prize for his LGBTQ+-themed project, underscoring the event’s role in nurturing new voices. Cullen’s outspoken advocacy for authentic representation dovetails with the festival’s objectives, signaling a growing appetite for narratives that challenge stereotypes and invite broader cultural conversations about queer identity in Britain.
