James Graham’s The Man proves that tax doesn’t need to be taxing, even in 2010

Tax returns. One of the worst annual ‘treats’ we have. So spare a thought for Ben Lewis in The Man … he has to do it with an audience. 

The one-man play coming to Reading’s South Street this week is interactive and will rely on Ben’s improvisation skills, which are so good they will impress not just audiences but the tax office itself. 

The Man is written by James Graham, the genius behind plays such as Quiz, Tammy Faye, Dear England, and the revival of Boys From The Blackstuff, which recently premiered at the Theatre Royal Windsor. 

The 2010 play takes a box filled with receipts as a starting point. Each receipt has its own story: sharing the hidden moments that shape us, cause us to question our identity, connections, and the legacy that we leave behind. 

The Man aims to offer a look at the intricacies of modern manhood, offering a raw, honest exploration of what it means to be a man in our time.

So why does the star of this one-man show not know what he’s doing? Well, each performance of The Man is unique: audiences can add their receipts to the boxes, and Ben will not know what story he is going to tell because he does not know which receipt he will pull out next.

The play is directed by Reading stalwart Matthew Whitelock, and is being performed over two nights at South Street Arts Centre. Audiences can book for both evenings as each show, while having the same spine, will be unique. 

Who is The Man? 

Ben Lewis is the star of the one-man show and tackling such an arduous part – well, tax returns aren’t exactly fun – means the young actor will have his work cut out for him. But he is looking forward to the challenge as it builds on his experiences over the years, including working with Matthew on musicals and performing on The Hexagon’s stage.

The 22-year-old says: “Ever since I was young – maybe six or seven – I knew I wanted to act. I took a few years out to do my degree, and I realised I wanted to pursue this as a career; this is what I want to dedicate my life to.”

The Man is set in 2010, which might seem like yesterday to some, but for Matthew … well, he was just seven back then and wasn’t filing a tax return. While some were filing digitally, for many it was a case of filling a booklet with the required numbers and ensuring it arrived at Sapphire Plaza in Watlington Street. 

Indeed on Christmas Day 2010, 845 people filed a tax return – but last Christmas that number was closer to 5,000, a clear indication of how technology is changing things. 

But ultimately, none of that matters, as Ben explains: “In a sense, the play is about filing that tax return, but it is what those receipts mean and how they connect to the character’s life. That is more important than finding out what he owes to the government. 

“It is the little things he buys, how they resonate with him, his year and his life. It’s not about working out what is a business expense and what is not.”

Learning lines for a play is one thing, carrying a one-man show for a whole 70 minutes is another … but adding a layer of complexity with the improvisation needed as different receipts get drawn out of the box? That’s a challenge for any experienced actor, let alone one at the start of their career. 

Ben is not fazed: “The order of those receipts, as to when they come out, and how I collect those receipts, that’s all up to the universe, so to speak. So there’s a sense of excitement, but also, you know, a sense of fear … it’s scary, but I wanted the challenge. 

“It’s one of the things that attracted me to The Man. 

“James Graham is a great playwright. He has won loads of awards, and this is one of his very early works. I was really fascinated by how he works around the concept of tax returns and receipt filing to write a one-man play, another thing I’ve always wanted to do. What better one-man play to do than this one?”

A lot rests on the shoulders of the actor when they are the only ones on the stage, even more so in a one-man show like this, although there will be occasional appearances by two characters representing the Inland Revenue. 

“A lot is riding on my shoulders, and I think that is what is exciting,” Ben says. “It’s a big challenge, and gives me a chance to create a piece of theatre that is my own, in a sense.”

The young actor says that before the show, he will get into character and try and identify with him. 

“He is a young person like me, albeit five or six years older. He’s also a nervous character: paranoid, has some anxieties and is a very likeable character … I liked and connected with him,” he says. 

South Street will be a new venue for Ben, and he thinks it’s a great space that will allow audiences to join in with the experience. 

“It is a piece of immersive theatre as much as it is a play,” he continues. “It’s empowering – for me and the audience. It’s exciting to perform it in a space like South Street, but it ceases to be a theatre … the audience becomes part of The Man’s room, watching his story and helping him complete his tax return.”

How audiences can become part of The Man’s experience

Will James Graham come along to watch Ben in The Man? “Hopefully,” he smiles. “He’s a busy man, but if he can make it, I’m sure he will. 

“He has sent me a lovely message, and we’ve spoken on social media. His later works are doing very well, but his early work is almost forgotten. I think it’s important to bring that back.”

The Man is a bit different to the usual fare at South Street, which tends to focus on comedians, musicians, poetry, and family events. Ben says it is similar to when the play first opened, in the confines of the small but perfectly formed Finsbury Theatre in London. 

It’s an opportunity for Reading audiences to experience a different type of theatre, something that Ben says is good for actors, for South Street and those who come to see the show. 

Ben wants people to come along and support a grassroots theatre piece created by Reading-based creatives. 

“We want people to support local theatre, and support their community. Yes, the ticket price is slightly high, but it’s not about making money, it’s about giving something back to the community and helping us all support each other.”

Those coming along won’t be passively sitting in the stalls: “As audiences enter, they are given a receipt. Each corresponds with a different story and various points in the performance, I will go to the audience, pick a receipt and tell that story,” Ben explains. 

There are other moments, such as when he picks out an iTunes receipt and shows the audience some dance moves, and encourages them to dance with him. They are also there as a shoulder to cry on during moments that Ben says are very touching. 

“The Man talks about undergoing therapy and, in a sense, the audience almost becomes a therapy, helping him talk through his life and his problems. 

“I’m asking a lot of the audience, but that is something different, and that is what separates this play from others out there, and it will be exciting for those watching.”

How to get tickets to see The Man

James Graham’s The Man, starring Ben Lewis and directed by Matthew Whitelock, is performed at South Street Arts Centre on Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4. Curtain up is at 8pm on both nights, and the play is 70 minutes with no interval. 

Tickets cost £20 per person or £18 for unwaged. 

They can be bought by calling the Reading Arts box office on 0118 960 6060, or by logging on to https://whatsonreading.com/venues/south-street/whats-on/man-james-graham