Working in an office environment can bring about its own challenges, especially when it comes time for a performance review. At this year’s Fringe, UK based actor Nicholas Collett will be featuring in the brilliant two-handed drama, Appraisal, at The Goodwood Theatre.
Appraisal follows the process of an annual staff work review gone horribly wrong. Jo, a senior manager, needs to appraise head of department Nicky’s work. Nicky just wants to keep working. What follows is a powerplay of manipulation, subtext and subterfuge exploring explosive consequences arising out of a seemingly innocent conversation.
Written by playwright Tim Marriott and presented by Virtually Creative, Appraisal is an hour long drama that has been well received at the Edinburgh Fringe.Nicholas Collett is an award-winning actor, writer, producer and director. Born and bred in Sheffield, he graduated from the University of Birmingham and then trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he won the Comedy Prize. His list of performing credits is as impressive as it is long.
I recently caught up with Nicholas shortly after he landed in Adelaide to begin rehearsals for Appraisal, and discussed the show and how he has been able to forge such a brilliant career in the performing arts industry world wide.
“It goes right back to school for me. I was drafted at the last minute into a Nativity play when I was six. The lad that was meant to play the innkeeper couldn’t remember his lines and I stepped in to cover the four lines. I have a very clear memory of standing there and thinking about how much fun it was to be someone else for that short moment of time. From there I kept doing school plays and then got cast as the Artful Dodger in a production of Oliver! in Yorkshire, where I’m originally from. Moving forward to when I was about fifteen, my drama teacher, who was incredibly supportive of me all through school and even beyond, had seen National Youth Theatre were advertising auditions in Manchester. I applied and got an audition and then was accepted into a junior short course with them. It was while I was performing with the National Youth Theatre that I worked out that I really wanted to make a career of acting, so I went on and did a drama degree at the University of Birmingham and then went on to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where I learnt a huge amount about stagecraft. From there doors have just opened and I have honestly loved every minute of it.”
With such an impressive career, Nicholas must have ‘pinch me’ moments where he looks back at what he has achieved.
“I am so grateful I have been able to work in this industry. I’ve had to work hard to get the work, and I’ve reached that point where I am really, really enjoying all the aspects of the business – writing, co-producing, directing and performing. I feel so lucky to have been able to do what I have been doing up until now.”
Nicholas also works alongside the next generation of actors, mentoring them in their craft.
“When I was a young actor I was very fortunate to work with some incredible, very experienced actors who were all very kind and generous with their time and mentorship. There were lots of ‘you might like to try it this way‘ instead of ‘don’t do it like that‘, which I found invaluable in my learning. I have always remembered that, so I have wanted to pay it back, so to speak, now that I am in the same position that my mentors were in.”
I asked Nicholas what it was about Tim’s script that pulled him in.
“Getting a call from Tim saying ‘can you please do it?!’” Nicholas chuckled.
“Last year I knew Tim had written the script. I had read the first draft and at the time I was thinking how terrific the script was. It was really quite tense and brutal in places. I am playing a person I don’t normally play – I don’t normally get cast as a villain. The whole show was a bit up in the air initially. I was already committed to do Done To Death at the Edinburgh Fringe, a play called Waiting for Hamlet as well as directing and co-producing a new musical of Pride and Prejudice, which I had also co-written. Even though my schedule was quite tight, Tim convinced me to do Appraisal at the same time in Edinburgh and I had a lot of fun working on this show. I think it is a terrific piece and it was so well received over there and we can’t wait for it to be seen now by Adelaide audiences.”
Joining Nicholas in Appraisal is young Adelaide based actor Emily-Jo Davidson.
“I met Emily-Jo over zoom when I was in Florida. Initially it was just a chat and I was expecting it to be a few minutes, but we ended up talking for ages. We really just clicked. It was great. We then did a read through of the play on zoom as well and I am now really looking forward to working with her in the flesh. She gave a terrific reading and really understands the nature of the character.”
Appraisal will be playing at The Goodwood Theatre between February 18 and 26. For tickets, visit: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/appraisal-af2023 .
Interviewed by Ben Stefanoff
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