5 Reasons to See Every Brilliant Thing

Making its triumphant return after a sold-out run at Pavilion in 2016, Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre present Every Brilliant Thing for eight performances only next week (Tue 11 – Sun 16 Jul)!

Written by Duncan Macmillan and starring James Rowland, this is a truly unmissable play and one of the highlights of our summer season. Let’s run through the Top 5 Reasons we think you need to see Every Brilliant Thing.

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1. Every Brilliant Thing is a critical smash hit

Since its debut in 2013 Every Brilliant Thing has charmed critics on both sides of the Atlantic. The Guardian called it “heart-wrenching and hilarious” while the New York Times found the play “captivating”. It’s garnered four-star reviews from prestigious publications like Time Out London, the Telegraph and the Irish Times, as well as being described by the Scotsman as “a piece that demonstrates why life is worth living”. High praise indeed!

2. Every Brilliant Thing will make you laugh

Another aspect of Every Brilliant Thing critics agree on is that it’s “one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see” (The Guardian) and “the funniest show about depression you’ve ever seen” (New York Post). The list of brilliant things referred to in the play’s title includes items like “things with stripes”, “people falling over” and “water fights”; it’s infused with a sense of childlike fun and wonder, even in the face of difficult circumstances.

3. Every Brilliant Thing will make you cry

At its core, Every Brilliant Thing is a story about a seven-year-old boy who responds to his mother’s first suicide attempt by starting a list of everything that makes life worth living. It’s an often heartbreaking story about the importance of family and the lengths we go to for the ones we love. One audience member called Every Brilliant Thing the “best piece of theatre I have seen. Came out a sobbing mess. Utterly beautiful”.

4. Every Brilliant Thing has a unique perspective on mental health

Talking about mental health is the only way to banish the stigma surrounding it, and here Duncan Macmillan writes with great passion and honesty about something people often find difficult to discuss. In directly confronting the topic Every Brilliant Thing makes mental health engaging, personal and universally relatable.

5. Every Brilliant Thing has been around the world

After four years of touring in the UK, Ireland, US, Australia and New Zealand, Every Brilliant Thing has touched the lives of tens of thousands of people. With elements of audience interaction, every performance is unique – making it the perfect show to return to again and again.