Have you ever had to call HM Revenue & Customs to query a tax form? If you have, then you’ll know the struggle faced by our protagonist Ben in this deftly touching comedy written by James Graham. In his mission to complete his Self Assessment form, the show sees Ben recount the milestones of his life guided by mountains of old receipts – trying to suss out what can be claimed as ‘business expenses’ in the process. In this unique approach to a play, we learn gradually more and more about the character, his anxieties and how he has become the 25-year-old standing in front of us now.

This production takes an exciting and worthwhile risk in handing the receipts out to audience members which are then chosen at random by Ben throughout the show. We’re then filled in on their significance to his story. This gives the show an improvisational feel, the stories never coming across as stagey or stilted, and the emotional arc of the show landing as fate decides. The various revelations from the anecdotal scenes are hilarious, shocking and moving, the audience never quite knowing what is going to happen next. This brings out the very best of Graham’s writing, which has a natural and conversational flow with pinpointed moments of subtle beauty. The approach of this company in their reading and interpretation of the play is an example to all of how productions should be done.

Tom Myles gives an incredible performance as Ben. Holding the bulk of the show together alone on the stage, the complete believability in the role is constant, with the audience behind him every step of the way. His ability to move between scenes with slick emotional clarity is impressive, but most importantly comes across as entirely natural and entirely real. I don’t think I have ever cared about a character in a play so much as Ben, and for this Myles should be truly proud.

The supporting role of the Inland Revenue call centre worker, played by Holly Carpenter, adds yet another layer to the narrative, allowing us to see Ben in a relationship with another person outside of that created with the audience. The connection between the two characters is perfectly observed, in turns funny and heartbreaking.

If this first production by the newly-formed Critical Ambition is anything to go by, this is one theatre company to keep a close eye on. With this shining gem of a show under its belt the sky is the limit.

The Man played at the Old Red Lion Theatre on 15 December.