Every Brilliant Thing Tickets

Every Brilliant Thing in London

Critically acclaimed one-person play Every Brilliant Thing comes to the West End for the first time at Soho Place, close to Tottenham Court Road station, starring a rotating cast of truly brilliant actors including Lenny Henry and Sue Perkins. To cheer up their depressed mother, a child creates a list of all the “brilliant things” they can think of - a list that just might shape the course of their life. Funny, heart-wrenching and uplifting in turn, Every Brilliant Thing is a truly unique theatrical experience. This show is “a real treat, and one not to be missed” (Playbill) - so book your tickets today!

What is the play Every Brilliant Thing about?

“Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for.”

When a six-year-old’s mum is taken to the hospital following a suicide attempt, they make a list of things to help make her happy again. As the protagonist grows to adulthood, their list grows longer, spanning decades, and has an enormous impact on how they live their own life.

Every Brilliant Thing is a stunning one-person play about depression, resilience, love and finding joy in the small things in life. Hopeful, moving and truly unique, the show incorporates audience interaction, giving those who would like to the opportunity to contribute their own “brilliant thing”.

Every Brilliant Thing premiered at Paines Plough’s Roundabout at Summerhall during the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe. The show was critically acclaimed and has since toured internationally and been filmed as a TV special for HBO. Every Brilliant Thing was most recently revived at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024, for a sell-out run celebrating both the play’s tenth and Paines Plough’s 50th anniversary. This brand new production marks the show's West End debut.

Who are the cast of Every Brilliant Thing?

The West End premiere of Every Brilliant Thing features an all-star cast of performers, who will each tackle the one-person show for individual sections of the run. The cast includes Lenny Henry, Ambika Mod, Sue Perkins, Minnie Driver and the show’s co-creator Jonny Donahoe, who also originated the role.

Lenny Henry is a British-Jamaican comedian, actor and writer. Perhaps best known for his stand-up comedy and presenting work, Henry is also an acclaimed actor. His credits include Broadchurch, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Comedy of Errors at the National Theatre and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Donmar Warehouse. Henry is the co-founder of charity Comic Relief and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards in 2003. Henry is a CBE and was knighted in the Queen's 2015 Birthday Honours for his services to drama and charity.

Ambika Mod is an award-winning British actor, comedian, and writer. Mod is best known for her breakthrough roles as Shruti in This Is Going to Hurt and as Emma in the Netflix adaptation of One Day. Her other credits include I Hate Suzie, White Rabbit Red Rabbit at Soho Place and Porn Play at the Royal Court Theatre. In 2024, Mod was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Sue Perkins is an award-winning British actor, comedian, broadcaster, presenter and writer. Perkins is probably best known for her comedy double act with Mel Giedroyc, Mel and Sue, and for co-hosting The Great British Bake Off with Giedroyc up until 2016. She has appeared on many comedy panel shows including QI, Have I Got News for You and Mock the Week, and has participated in Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Mastermind and Taskmaster.

Minnie Driver is an Academy Award-nominated actress best known for Good Will Hunting, Circle of Friends and Sleepers. She also appeared in a film version of The Phantom of the Opera as Carlotta.

Jonny Donahoe a British comedian, writer and performer. He co-created and originated the role in Every Brilliant Thing, and received nominations for Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Awards following the show's off-Broadway premiere in 2014. He is part of Chortle Award-nominated comedy band Jonny and the Baptists. His other credits include Anna/Anastasia, 30 Christmases, and Forgiveness.

When will each performer be appearing in Every Brilliant Thing?

While the appearance of any artist cannot be guaranteed at any specified show, due to illness or injury, the planned performance schedule is:

• Lenny Henry 1-12 August, 14 August (2.30pm), 15 August (8.30pm), 16-19 August, 21 August (2.30pm), 22 August (8.30pm), 23-26 August, 28 August (2.30pm), 29 August (8.30pm), 30 August, 29 September (7.30pm) 30 September (7.30pm), 1-8 October
• Ambika Mod 2-3 September, 4 September (7.30pm), 5 September (6.00pm), 6 September (7.30pm), 11 September, 12 September (6.00pm), 17-18 September, 19 September (6.00pm), 24-25 September, 26 September (6.00pm)
• Sue Perkins 4 September (2.30pm), 5 September (8.30pm), 6 September (2.30pm), 8-10 September, 12 September (8.30pm), 13-16 September, 19 September (8.30pm), 20-23 September, 26 September (8.30pm), 27 September
• Jonny Donahoe 13 August, 14 August (7.30pm), 15 August (6.00pm), 20 August, 21 August (7.30pm), 22 August (6.00pm), 27 August, 28 August (7.30pm), 29 August (6.00pm), 1 September, 9-11 October
• Minnie Driver 13 October - 8 November

As there is a crossover between dates (with some performers appearing on matinees but not evening shows), do ensure you check carefully which performer is appearing on the date and time you are booking for, to avoid disappointment.

Who are the creative team of Every Brilliant Thing?

Every Brilliant Thing is co-written by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe. Macmillan is a British playwright, screenwriter and director best known for his plays Lungs and People Places and Things. He is a Bruntwood Playwriting Prize winner and Oliver Nominee. Macmillan also co-directs the production with Jeremy Herrin.

Jeremy Herrin is an Olivier Award-winning director and former artistic director of Headlong theatre company. His credits include This House for the National Theatre, The Priory for the Royal Court Theatre and Long Day's Journey into Night at the Wyndham's Theatre starring Brian Cox.

Book Tickets for Every Brilliant Thing at Soho Place Today!

We can think of one brilliant thing - securing tickets to Every Brilliant Thing at Soho Place! Don't miss your chance to see Sue Perkins, Lenny Henry, Ambika Mod and Jonny Donahoe put their unique spin on this “extraordinary, shattering and beautiful” (The Times) show - book today!