Every Brilliant Thing (Modern Plays)

$15.95
by Duncan Macmillan

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If you live a long life and get to the end of it without ever once feeling crushingly depressed, then you probably weren't paying attention. You're seven years old. Mum's in hospital. Dad says she's 'done something stupid'. She finds it hard to be happy. You start a list of everything that's brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she's read it because she's corrected your spelling. A child attempts to ease their mother's depression by creating a list of all the best things in the world. Through adulthood, as the list grows, they learn the deep significance it has on their own life. From Olivier Award-nominated writer Duncan Macmillan ( People, Places and Things ) , Every Brilliant Thing is a comedy about the lengths we will go for those we love. This edition was published to coincide with the West End premiere at @sohoplace in August 2025. Co-directed by Jeremy Herrin ( Best of Enemies ), this production featured Lenny Henry, Ambika Mod, Sue Perkins, Minnie Driver, and the show's original performer Jonny Donahoe. “Rich with theatrical innovation, it is a truly brilliant thing. I wrote this with tears in my eyes” ― Times “One of the funniest plays you'll ever see about depression – and possibly one of the funniest plays you'll ever see, full stop” ― Guardian Duncan Macmillan 's work has been performed throughout the world, including at the National Theatre, Royal Court, Almeida, Barbican, St Ann's Warehouse, Melbourne Theatre Company, Berliner Ensemble, Hamburg Schauspielhaus, Schauspielhaus Köln, Burgtheater Vienna, Vesturport, Kansallisteatteri, Nationaltheatret Oslo and in the repertory of the Schaubühne Berlin, as well as at the Edinburgh Festival, the Manchester International Festival, Salzburg Festival, Festival d'Avignon and Theatertreffen, in the West End and on Broadway. Both 1984 and People, Places and Things were nominated for Best New Play and Rosmersholm was nominated Best Revival at the Olivier Awards.

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