Minnie Driver has joined the roster of stars that will track Every Brilliant Thing in the Duncan Macmillan-Jonny Donahoe play's West End debut, set to begin August 1 at London's @sohoplace. Driver's stint will run October 13-November 8, which also constitutes a four-week extension for the production.
The solo play debuted at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it played three sold-out consecutive summers before coming to Off-Broadway's Barrow Street Theatre in 2014. The latter run was filmed live and aired on HBO with Donahoe starring. The work returned to Edinburgh Fringe in 2024, where it was a Playbill Pick.
Also slated to perform are Lenny Henry (August 1-30, opening August 7), co-writer and original star Donahoe (August 13-September 1, opening August 21), Ambika Mod (September 2-26, opening September 11), former Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins (September 4-27, opening September 10). Henry re-joins September 29-October 8, and Donahoe will again star October 9-11. Casting is by Jessica Ronane.
“I am thrilled to have been asked to be part of Every Brilliant Thing," says Driver in a statement. "It’s an extraordinarily unique one-person show—funny, raw and kind, and crucially supported by the involvement of the audience, which adds a really interesting angle on storytelling.”
In the work, a nameless protagonist faces a distant father, a suicidal mother, and their own inexplicable deep sadness. And in a spark of childhood genius, they counteract these obstacles by chronicling every brilliant thing in the world—first to cheer up their depressed mother, and later for friends, lovers, and themself. Those things include items ranging from simple pleasures ("ice cream,” “the color yellow”) to the far more specific and detailed ("old people who are kind and don’t smell unusual,” “the even numbered Star Trek films").
Jeremy Herrin and Macmillan will direct, with design by Vicki Mortimer, lighting design by Jack Knowles, and sound design by Tom Gibbons.
Second Half Productions is producing along with Gavin Kalin Productions, Rodeo/Tilted, and Winkler & Smalberg, and in association with Nica Burns and Paines Plough.
A full performance schedule and tickets are at SohoPlace.org.
