Every Brilliant Thing

“Every Brilliant Thing” begins with the Narrator, played by Sharon Sum (The Monster in the Mirror and Titoudao), recounting a childhood memory. At seven years old, she was taken to see her mother in hospital, because, “Your mother’s done something stupid.” – her mother’s first suicide attempt. To uplift her mother, she starts compiling a list of all the brilliant things worth living for:

1. 1. 1. Umbrella Motorbike Ice Cream
      2. Zero Point
      3. The Colour Yellow
      4. Rollercoasters
      5. Polly Pocket

As the list grows, so does the Narrator. We follow her journey into womanhood and realise the list is more than just that, it has become a source of comfort and resilience, helping her navigate the complexities of life.

Presented by Singapore Pools and produced by Gateway Arts, “Every Brilliant Thing” is a delightful and arresting one-person play by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, directed by multi-award-winning and published playwright, director, actor, and designer, Oliver Chong. It is as much about depression, anger and heartbreak as it is a story of joy, forgiveness, and a celebration of the resilient spirit of man. An encouraging nudge towards finding brilliant things in the everyday. The Guardian described it as, “One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression.”

This play is performed in a unique format, engaging the audience in a participatory manner and making them an integral part of the storytelling process.