APPRAISAL
by Tim Marriott
An annual workplace review goes horribly wrong!
Sold-out performances in London at the Tabard Theatre and in New York at 59E59 Theaters.
Head of Department Nicky wants to get on with her job, but her boss, Jo, has other ideas. He has a plan - and thinks she is going to like it.
Appraisal is a multiple award winning and critically acclaimed dark comedy about workplace power, manipulation and corporate misbehaviour.
What begins as a routine annual review quickly becomes a achingly funny but unsettling battle of wits.
As Jo’s hidden agenda emerges, Nicky must navigate a meeting that spirals into an absurdly tense and violent showdown.
Written by Tim Marriott, this sharp two-hander combines razor-edged dialogue, layered subtext and farcical humour.
The current production is performed by Tim Marriott, best known as Gavin in seven series of BBC TV’s The Brittas Empire, and Angela Bull, whose credits include Coronation Street and DI Ray.
Watch the trailer.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Winner: Best Actor and Best Actress, Edinburgh Festival Awards 2023
Winner: Best Theatre Award, Adelaide Fringe 2023
Nominated: OffFest Award
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
“Appraisal is absolutely brilliant!” Chiswick Calendar
“Thrilling and splendidly performed, Appraisal is decidedly a gem.” TalkinBroadway
“A concise and captivating two-hander - compelling, riveting.” CultureVulture
“Tim Marriott’s snappy send-up of office manipulation - clever and cutting very close to the bone.” TheatreBoard
“A battle of wits: tight, well-paced and engrossing.” ★★★★★ Reviews Hub
“The measured tone and tempo of the dialogue move through a maze of twists and turns, each landing with humorous, dramatic punch.” ★★★★★ Edinburgh Guide
“A tightly written and compellingly performed evisceration of workplace dynamics.” ★★★★★ InDaily“A terrific play,disturbingly realistic.” ★★★★★ GlamAdelaide
“Intelligent and incisive… utterly captivating.” ★★★★★ Stage Whispers
“An absolutely excellent play: clever, dramatic, comedic and hilarious.” ★★★★★ Edinburgh Review
“Absolutely gripping, and very funny.” ★★★★ Dark Chat
“A masterclass in gaslighting and a masterpiece of manipulation.” ★★★★ Everything Theatre
“A romp through workplace politics.” ★★★★ One4Review
“Recognisable, authentic, deftly crafted, thoughtful and laugh-out-loud funny.” ★★★★ Liam Rudden
“Very funny, with some wonderful linguistic thrusting and parrying.” ★★★★ Scottish Field
“A classically structured two-hander that captures the unjustifiable, often unaccountable behaviour enabled by office hierarchies.” ★★★★ The Scotsman
“A tense, relatable thriller… genius.” ★★★★ Bohemian Britain
TOUR INFORMATION
Appraisal is a highly adaptable two-hander performed in real time.
Highly flexible having been originally conceived for festivals and international touring.
Running time: 60 minutes, no interval or 85 mins with 20 minute intervalTechnical requirements: Minimal lighting and sound
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Angela Bull and Nicholas Collett; directed by Tim Marriott
Edinburgh 2023 and London: Angela Bull and Tim Marriott; London performances at the Tabard Theatre
Adelaide 2024: Tim Marriott and Stefanie Rossi; produced by Belinda Redman
New York: Tim Marriott and Alex Sunderhaus; re-directed by Margarett Perry for Twilight Productions