Latest news with #DuncanMacmillan
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Lenny Henry wants everyone to join in with this life-affirming piece of theatre
It takes a brave soul to embark on a live stage show which relies on the participation of dozens of audience members: the theatrical equivalent of wobbling across a tightrope while juggling fiery chainsaws. Yet it's key to this popular 2014 play, which makes its long-awaited West End debut after being performed in more than 80 countries. While ostensibly a solo piece, in practice it's a true group effort – though, on its opening night, the blazingly charismatic Lenny Henry resolutely led the charge. The story centres on a man whose clinically depressed mum attempts suicide when he's seven years old. He begins writing her a list of everything that's brilliant about the world, and keeps adding to it throughout his life. The show's performer hands multiple audience members numbered cards in advance: when he reaches that number on the list, they're invited to call out their entry. A few people are also asked to play supporting characters, like a taciturn dad or a sock-puppet-wielding school counsellor. Henry sets a high bar in this new run, which features a rotating cast of actors succeeding him over the next three months: Minnie Driver, Sue Perkins, Ambika Mod, and Jonny Donahoe (the show's co-creator, with Duncan Macmillan, and its original performer). Macmillan co-directs here with Jeremy Herrin, who helmed the former's award-winning play People, Places & Things. It's hardly surprising that Henry, who's been doing stand-up since he was 15, is so at ease with this high-wire, interactive format. But it's still enormous fun watching him take charge of the intimate, in-the-round @sohoplace auditorium and roll with the punches. When an audience member stumbles or says something unexpected, Henry coaches them warmly while adding wry ad libs and pulling expressive faces. On my night, the woman playing his girlfriend confessed she couldn't read the blurb of the book he'd handed her, and several people volunteered their glasses. A delighted Henry quipped: 'It's like Specsavers in here!' But, crucially, this is just-about-controlled chaos: Henry always leads us back to the story, which has deeply affecting moments. He slips into a shy, hunched physicality as the boy and, when he cradles a jacket in his arms, we fully believe it's his beloved dog, Ronnie Barker, being put to sleep. He poignantly describes this first experience of death as 'a loved one becoming an object'. Macmillan has also personalised the script for each performer, which enhances Henry's confessional delivery. When his dad cooks his girlfriend lasagne, for instance, Henry protests: 'What kind of Jamaican are you?' The piece wrestles with weighty ideas, like how a parent's mental illness affects their child's development. And the communal storytelling format remains a neat demonstration of the play's central thesis: it's vital to reach out and connect with one another, whether through therapy or theatre. This life-affirming show proves that and more – an absolute tonic.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Every Brilliant Thing review – Lenny Henry gets audience on board for list of life's joys
Since its premiere in 2013, Duncan Macmillan's one-person play about depression has gradually become a cult hit. It's been performed in more than 80 countries and now – finally – makes its West End debut. There's a starry rotating cast, kicking off with Lenny Henry and also including original performer Jonny Donahoe, as well as Ambika Mod, Sue Perkins and Minnie Driver. Jeremy Herrin directs alongside Macmillan and a posse of leading producers are backing the show. It all screams smash hit. But there's something about the scale and downright snazziness of this production that doesn't quite gel. The setup is simple. It's about a young boy who, after his mum does 'something stupid' when she has acute depression, decides to make a list about all the things that make life worth living. Waffles. Hedgehogs. Falling in love. Before the show begins, scribbled notes with items from the list are distributed throughout the audience. At regular intervals, the audience is required to shout out the items from the list. A few spectators are also pulled into various mime sequences and running gags and, with Henry, they carefully bring this boy's story to life as he transitions from a hopeful young boy to faltering and thoughtful man. In the very best productions of Macmillan's play, the moments of audience interaction can feel really special. But on press night, everything feels slightly on edge. Perhaps the shiny new theatre and star performer are a little imposing. Every now and then, Henry can't resist sparring with the crowd. It's all good fun but every ad lib takes us one step closer to a standup show – and one step further from the warm heart of this play. It's only when Henry isn't trying to be funny that the show settles. There's a stillness and steeliness to him when he talks about the importance of protecting our mental health. Henry also responds beautifully to all the music woven into the show, which plays such an important role and underlines just how much this boy has been forced to live on the edges of his family life. Listening behind doors. Hovering. Worrying. Never getting truly involved, for fear of what he may lose if he lets the happiness in. At @sohoplace theatre, London, until 8 November
Time Out
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The 10 best new London theatre openings in August 2025
August is, hands down, the slowest month of the year for theatre in London. Lots of venues are closed, lots of people have buggered off to the Edinburgh Fringe – including us! – there are weeks in September with more openings than the whole of August. But still: this is London, and there's a non-negligible amount of cool summer stuff happening, from a starry West End debut for cult show Every Brilliant Thing to the long-awaited return of Secret Cinema. Here, then, is the very best of the month. The best new London theatre openings in August 2025 1. Every Brilliant Thing What is it? Duncan Macmillan's much-loved depression monologue Every Brilliant Thing has been a cult hit across the world, translated into every language from Arabic to Mandarin. The drama about an unnamed protagonist compiling a gigantic list of everything good about the world always seemed too intimate for the West End – but finally here it comes in a supercharged production that deploys a wild array of celebrities to take turns performing it over the course of its run: Lenny Henry, Ambika Mod, Sue Perkins, Minnie Driver plus Johnny Donahoe, its original performer and co-creator. @sohoplace, Aug 1-Nov 8. Book tickets here. 2. Brigadoon What is it? Lerner & Loewe's Brigadoon is widely regarded as one of the great 20th century musical scores: it's just a shame about the plot, which originally revolved around some American game hunters stumbling across a magical disappearing Scottish village and finding love with the fey, romantic folk within. In other words, it's very offensive to the Scots and thus hasn't been seen in this country for decades. But new Open Air Theatre boss Drew McOnie has found a solution: the composers' estates have mercifully agreed to let top Scottish playwright Rona Munro give the book a fairly hearty rewrite. It's an exciting prospect. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Aug 2-Sep 20. Buy tickets here. 3. Secret Cinema's Grease the Immersive Movie Experience What is it? Secret Cinema is back! And after three years away it sounds like they've come up with something a little different. Where most of their shows of yore involved an immersive theatre experience based around a film followed by a screening of said film that could almost feel like an afterthought, this 'immersive movie experience' sets you on a journey in which you watch the film as you traverse the immersive bits. We'll have to see it to get our heads around it, but it sounds like a good idea. Grease is the start of a projected three-summer stand at Evolution London in Battersea Park. Evolution London, Aug 1-Sep 7. Buy tickets here. 4. Good Night, Oscar What is it? Post-pandemic the Barbican has given up its summers to a succession of big budget musicals. But with Fiddler on the Roof having already fulfilled that role this season, the summer show is a transfer of this hit Broadway drama about a dramatic night in the life of pianist and noted wit Oscar Levant, a mainstay of mid-twentieth century US talk shows. Will & Grace man Sean Hayes will reprise his Tony-winning title performance, starring opposite our own Rosalie Craig. Barbican Centre, now until Sep 21. Buy tickets here. 5. Juniper Blood What is it? Announced scarcely a month before it opened, this new drama from the mercurial Mike Bartlett is an intriguing one, following a couple as they attempt to escape the urban rat race and retreat to a farm – at considerable cost to themselves. Is it Mike Bartlett does The Good Life? Maybe - and would that be such a bad thing? Whatever the case, James Macdonald's production looks very promising, with a great looking cast that includes Hattie Morahan's first stage role in a couple of years. Donmar Warehouse, Aug 16-Oct 4. 6. Twelfth Night What is it? The most straightforward piece of programming in a somewhat eccentric Globe summer season is a production of the beloved Twelfth Night that will see Robin Belfield – who directed last year's Princess Essex – get a crack at a Shakespeare play. There's a suggestion it might have a carnival theme of sorts, but essentially it looks like a good vibes take on a comedy that can come across as rather melancholy. Ronke Adékoluéjó will play Viola, with reliably hilarious Globe regular Pierce Quigley as Malvolio. Shakespeare's Globe, Aug 6-Oct 25. Buy tickets here. 7. Interview What is it? An interesting bit of late summer programming from Riverside Studios, with a two-hander stage adaptation of this tense drama about a jaded veteran reporter forced to do an interview with a starlet he sees as beneath him. If this is sounding a bit familiar, that's because there have already been two screen versions: the original, by Theo van Gogh in 2003, and a Steve Buschemi English language remake that came along in 2007. A 2025 update for the age of influencers and smartphones makes a lot of sense and it'll be on stage this August, with US actors Robert Sean Leonard and Patten Hughes starring. Riverside Studios, Aug 23-Sep 27. 8. A Man for All Seasons What is it? Before there was Wolf Hall there was… A Man for All Seasons. This relatively rare chance to see a production of Robert Bolt's classic drama about Thomas More, the polymath chancellor to Henry VIII, whose days became numbered after he failed to support the king in his schism with Rome. Transferring to the West End for a short stint after an acclaimed run in Bath, it stars veteran actor Martin Shaw as More. Harold Pinter Theatre, Aug 6-Sep 6. Buy tickets here. 9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe What is it? Sally Cookson's sweepingly psychedelic take on CS Lewis's iconic kids' fantasy novel was a big hit for the Bridge Theatre back in the day and is still doing the rounds to this day, albeit in slightly redirected form. If you're running low on things to do with kids at the tail end of the hols, this short stint at the tail end of the summer hols should get them back on side. Sadler's Wells, Aug 20-Sep 7. Buy tickets here. 10. Camden Fringe What is it? The Camden Fringe is vastly more ramshackle, DIY and 'early career' than its more famous Edinburgh equivalent. But we wouldn't have it any other way: it's a thoroughly loveable phenomenon that instils a sense of community and drive to London's increasingly fragmented fringe scene. Also tickets are cheap as chips – dip in and support a little local art, and you might just come across an unexpected gem. Various Camden venues, now until Aug 24.
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Jon Santos returns to stage with 'Bawat Bonggang Bagay' and 'Side Show'
This Pride Month, Filipino theater icon Jon Santos is making a triumphant return to the stage in "Bawat Bonggang Bagay." As if that's not enough, he will quickly up the ante in July with "Side Show: The Musical," presented by The Sandbox Collective at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater in Circuit Makati. "Bawat Bonggang Bagay" (BBB) returns for a strictly limited engagement from June 14 to June 22, 2025. The Filipino adaptation of Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe's acclaimed "Every Brilliant Thing," "BBB" is translated into Filipino by Guelan Luarca, under the direction of Jenny Jamora, who won Outstanding Stage Direction at the 12th Gawad Buhay Awards for her work on the piece. Turning mental health advocacy into a raw and moving theatrical experience, the play follows a child who begins writing a list of all the brilliant things in life to help their mother through depression. It's an earnest, participatory piece that finds humor and healing in the darkest moments, with audiences invited to literally become part of the story. Side Show: The Musical From heartfelt monologue to vaudeville spectacle, Santos pivots into a bold new role in July as "Side Show: The Musical" hits the stage beginning July 26. Here, he stars as 'The Boss,' the charismatic ringmaster, who introduces audiences to the world of the so-called 'freaks'—centered on the extraordinary lives of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. Set in 1930s America, "Side Show" is a fictionalized musical account of the real-life Hilton sisters who rose to fame in the vaudeville circuit. Behind the bright lights and applause lies a story of sisterhood, selfhood, and the search for love and acceptance—a fitting narrative for the month that celebrates queerness, uniqueness, and chosen family. Directed by Toff de Venecia, "Side Show" marks another daring chapter for The Sandbox Collective, which previously mounted acclaimed productions like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Next to Normal." "Side Show" boasts a stellar artistic team, with Ejay Yatco as musical director, JM Cabling as choreographer, Mark Dalacat pulling double duty as assistant director and set designer, Gabo Tolentino (lighting design), and Carlos Siongco (costume design). Though full casting and ticketing details have yet to be announced, Jon Santos' role alone is enough to generate excitement. As 'The Boss,' he's expected to bring his signature flair to the stage, lacing grandeur with empathy and showmanship. This double billing of BBB and "Side Show" beginning Pride Month is more than theatrical programming. It's a cultural moment. A proud member of the LGBT+ community and a pillar of Philippine comedy and theater, Jon Santos returns to the stage not only to entertain but to affirm the power of visibility, vulnerability, and joy. Catch "Bawat Bonggang Bagay" from June 14 to 22, and "Side Show" from July 26 to August 17 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. — LA, GMA Integrated News
Al-Ahram Weekly
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Highly successful play Every Brilliant Thing tours Upper Egypt, Delta - Stage & Street - Arts & Culture
Following the success of its previous performances, Every Brilliant Thing, a play directed by Ahmed El-Attar, will embark on a special tour across Upper Egypt and the Delta in April and May 2025. Every Brilliant Thing is a play written by Duncan Macmillan in the 2010s that tells the story of a heartfelt journey through a mother's suicidal depression and its repercussions on her family. Highly innovative, it has seen great success on stages in the UK and worldwide. Ahmed El-Attar, who also worked on the mise-en-scene, translated and adapted the play into Arabic. The translation was part of a bigger project titled "Theatre in Translation," which aimed to translate 24 contemporary plays by European playwrights into Arabic, each representing a different European country. In its Egyptian version, the play features the Cairo-based Syrian actress Nanda Mohamed as the protagonist of the monodrama. The play uses cultural connotations related to Egypt, making it very accessible to viewers, who are, at times, invited to participate in the performance. The cultural references and interactions with the audience make the play particularly engaging and add a breeze of warmth to the otherwise somber topic of one of the worst psychological ailments. Another component emphasising hope is the list of "all brilliant things" that Nanda experiences in life, which is partially read during the performance. Read the full review here. The play was staged several times in Cairo, receiving a full house on each consecutive run. It proved equally successful in its staging in Lebanon, at Beirut's Zico House and Studio Laban and Sharjah, UAE. "The upcoming tour is part of a broader vision to bring contemporary theatre to a wider audience in Egypt, offering an interactive experience that celebrates life's small joys," reads the press release. "The play invites audiences to actively participate in shaping the performance, making each show a unique and immersive experience. Supported by the British Council, the tour provides more audiences the opportunity to enjoy a theatrical journey filled with emotion and humor." The tour will bring this special performance to several cities, including Assiut and Minya in Upper Egypt and Alexandria and Mansoura in the Delta. The programme of the tour is as follows: Assiut – El-Samayeen Theatre – 8 and 9 April, 7pm Minya – Jesuit Theatre – 11 and 12 April, 7pm Alexandria – Jesuit Theatre – 30 April and 1 May, 7pm Mansoura – Misr Public Library – 3 and 4 May, 7pm Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
