Every Brilliant Thing

By Duncan Macmillan

Corpus Playroom, Cambridge, 09 – 13 July 2024, 20:00

“Heart-wrenching, hilarious…possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll see about depression.”

The Guardian

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.

What is it like to live with a parent who doesn’t want to be here? Is it your fault? Can you do anything to make it better? Every Brilliant Thing reminds us of the power of human connection and that things can improve even in the darkest moments. 

Heart-breaking and hilarious – how a seven year old child determines to give his mother 1000 reasons to live.

The narrator is sitting on the floor with his legs cross. Individual post-it notes are falling from above him and he is smiling up at them.

Audience feedback for Every Brilliant Thing:

  • “Such a professional level of theatre. I can’t even imagine how to memorise 1h 15min of text and speak it so naturally, while doing all the other things and keeping the audience involved.”
  • “Thanks for inspiring us.”
  • “It really touched me emotionally, and at the same time made me laugh – very special.”
  • “Would see it again if I could.”
  • “Beautiful and tragic simultaneously. Bravo!”
  • “David John is outstanding in this powerfully heart-wrenching piece.”
  • “Well done Corkscrew Theatre – another blinder of a show.”
  • “An absolutely stunning performance.”
  • “Loved every minute.”
  • “A beautiful performance, one I’ll remember for a long time… wonderfully engaging, funny and heartbreaking.”
  • “A masterful performance, and the best theatre I’ve seen since The Burnt City.”
  • “I’m still buzzing.”
  • “One of the best things I’ve ever seen.”
  • “A beautiful piece of theatre.”
  • “Well that was bloody brilliant.”
  • “Magical and wonderful. David John you were fantastic!”
  • “Beautiful in every way. My favourite Corkscrew show to date. I felt every word of it.”
  • “Pitch perfect performance telling a deeply poignant story in a way that brought us all together like a little family gathering, laughing at our memories.”
  • “So uplifting despite the serious subject matter.”
  • “Truly a work of art. Thanks.”