Review | Every Brilliant Thing - Soho Place

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖!

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐒𝐨𝐡𝐨 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

"𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦."

Think of a Brilliant Thing. While you do that, let me tell you about something truly brilliant I experienced yesterday 

Every Brilliant Thing is a 75-minute one-person show with some delightful help from the audience. Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, it begins with a deeply personal and poignant story: the narrator recounts the first time their mother attempted suicide. In response, the child starts compiling a list of life’s most joyful pleasures — things like ice cream and staying up past bedtime. 

The beauty of the show lies in its honesty. It gently teaches us that while finding the brilliant things in life can help us cope, they may not always be enough to fix everything. But the act of noticing them matters.

For this performance, the storyteller was none other than Lenny Henry. His presence in the round offered a 360-degree connection with the audience, creating an atmosphere that felt both intimate and inclusive. In a world where mental health still carries far too much stigma, Henry’s performance made space for empathy, vulnerability, and hope. His portrayal delicately revealed how so many of us mask pain behind a smile — something conveyed with striking power through his nuanced monologues.

Make no mistake: this play isn’t just heavy. It’s also wonderfully funny. The tone remains light, and the audience gets to be part of the story — maybe as a librarian, a father, or even a sock puppet. Henry’s charm, wit, and warmth brought out laughs while still honouring the emotional weight of the piece

Other names attached to the production include Jonny Donohoe, Sue Perkins, Ambika Mod, and Minnie Driver — a lineup for a production that deserves every bit of praise

This is more than a play. It’s a powerful reminder of how fragile and precious life is — and why it’s worth treasuring the little things, especially with those we love

So, did you think of a brilliant thing?

The sound of rain tapping on the window...

Now tell us yours.

Then book this play

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐