10 years after its premiere, the modern-day fringe classic Every Brilliant Thing returns to the Roundabout. This new production is directed by one half of the writing duo, Duncan Macmillan, and stars the other half, Jonny Donahoe.
Every Brilliant Thing is about a boy and his list. One day, his father tells him that his mother has ‘done something stupid’. His mom is unhappy. To cheer her up, he makes a list of brilliant things that are worth living for. To this magical list, I present my list of the brilliant things about Every Brilliant Thing.
1.Meeting lovely characters.
In Every Brilliant Thing, we meet a constellation of characters who touch the boy’s life: a vet, his father, a university lecturer, his beloved partner Sam, and his school counsellor, Mrs. Patterson. Each character is portrayed through the boy’s eyes, shaped by his kind and warm interpretation of them.
2.Being a part of a show that makes you feel like you are a part of the most wonderful community.
3.Sharing a collective experience.
4.Feeling that we’re all bound together.
Rather than Jonny Donahoe playing every role, the magic of the performance lies in the audience. As Donahoe moves through the crowd, he invites random audience members to embody these figures—inviting them into the story. We laugh as the boy makes an argument with his lecturer, smile as someone transforms a sock into Barry the sock-dog and uses it to talk to the boy, feel the tenderness of love blossoming and breaking between the boy and Sam and share his excitement as Donahoe runs in circles, high-fiving every audience member he can reach. It’s one of the most brilliant things about theatre: for that fleeting hour within the Roundabout tent, we, the audience, become a community, entwined in the boy’s story, sharing his moments of joy, loss and hope.
5.The silver lining
Every Brilliant Thing delves into suicide and depression through the innocent eyes of a boy, portraying the complexities of these experiences with remarkable sensitivity. It beautifully captures the layers of depression and the emotional weight of watching someone you love live with it. Avoiding stereotypes and stigmas, the play emphasises the struggle to comprehend why those you care about can suddenly stop being happy.
6.Visiting a show on its 10-year anniversary
I envy those who were fortunate enough to witness the debut of Every Brilliant Thing at the Fringe and now, 10 years later, celebrate its return. A decade filled with immense change—Brexit, the pandemic—yet this brilliant piece of theatre reminds us that, despite everything, there is always hope and joy in the world, making life worth living.
I would love to add so much more to this list, but it’s far better if you experience it yourself.
Every Brilliant Thing is running until 24 August (not 20) at Summerhall – Roundabout.
Buy tickets here.
Image provided to The Student for press use.