In each issue of D&T we bring you a page-to-stage focus on a play for performance with your students, written by someone who has directed it themselves. This issue, Paul Bateson introduces Every Brilliant Thing; a quirky, poignant, hard-hitting, storytelling text.
Barter Theatre's production of Every Brilliant Thing, 2022
Barter Theatre's production of Every Brilliant Thing, 2022 - Courtesy Barter Theatre

Since it was first performed in 2013, Every Brilliant Thing has toured the world and played to 1000s of people; but in terms of being staged with young people the playwright (co-writer here) Duncan Macmillan is arguably more well known for his small cast plays (Monster; Lungs; People, Places, and Things). However, this emotional and engaging direct address piece, which allows for lots audience interaction, multi-use of props, and opportunities for music and projection, should not be overlooked.

Many of Macmillan's major plays take as their central theme a contemporary socio-political issue: Lungs explores parenthood; People, Places and Things tackles addiction and recovery; and Every Brilliant Thing considers the issue of suicidality. This text is therefore only suitable really for KS4/5 students, and above.

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