Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe’s Every Brilliant Thing continues its triumphant West End run at @sohoplace, this time with Sue Perkins taking the reins of this deeply moving and joyously uplifting one-person show. With a rotating cast bringing fresh perspectives to the narrative, Perkins offers a version that is both warmly familiar and strikingly new.
Originally premiered at Roundabout at Summerhall in 2014, Every Brilliant Thing has travelled the globe, touching hearts in over 80 countries and even inspiring an HBO adaptation. Its premise is deceptively simple: a child begins a list of everything brilliant in the world to help their mother cope with depression. As the list grows through adolescence and adulthood, so too does its emotional resonance, becoming a lifeline not just for the mother, but for the narrator themselves.
Perkins, best known for her quick wit and charm on Just a Minute and The Great British Bake Off, proves an inspired choice for this interactive piece. Her ability to respond to the unpredictable nature of audience participation is second to none. She builds rapport effortlessly, turning the entire auditorium into a community of co-conspirators. Half the fun is watching the ‘casting’ process unfold before the show begins, as audience members are gently recruited to play key roles in the story.
What sets this performance apart is the subtle shift in perspective. With previous performers being male, Perkins brings a nuanced take to the relationship between mother and daughter. It’s a small change, but one that adds a new layer of emotional depth to the already rich narrative.
Perkins’ comedic timing is impeccable. She finds hidden gems of humour in the way the audience responds, dropping one-liners with such ease it’s as if they were part of the script. Yet she never loses sight of the story’s emotional core. The result is a performance that feels like a warm embrace, drawing the audience into a trance of storytelling beauty.
Directed by Jeremy Herrin and Duncan Macmillan, and supported by a stellar creative team including Vicki Mortimer (design), Jack Knowles (lighting), and Tom Gibbons (sound), this production is a masterclass in simplicity and sincerity, while Sue Perkins makes Every Brilliant Thing feel like the most brilliant thing you’ll see all year.
