Lenny Henry and Jonny Donahoe discuss the ups and the downs at opening night of Every Brilliant Thing in the West End

Last night saw the emotional and impactful Every Brilliant Thing, written by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe, celebrate its official opening night for its West End premiere.

Gracing the stage of @sohoplace, the solo show (with a generous helping of audience participation) kicked off its limited season with Lenny Henry and we caught up with the much-loved comedian alongside Donahoe (who is also scheduled to perform during the run) after the curtain call.

Find out more about this unique piece of theatre in our opening night highlights video below:

Every Brilliant Thing originally premiered at Paines Plough’s Roundabout at Summerhall in Edinburgh in 2014. It has since toured internationally, been adapted into an acclaimed HBO special, and was most recently revived in a sold-out 2024 anniversary run at Roundabout, celebrating both the play’s tenth anniversary and Paines Plough’s 50th.

Told from the perspective of a child who begins making a list of life’s joys for their mother amid her struggles with depression, the play spans decades, showing how the list shapes their own life. It explores themes of mental health, resilience, and love with humour and emotional depth.

The production is co-directed by Jeremy Herrin and Macmillan and is presented by Second Half Productions in association with Nica Burns and Paines Plough. It is designed by Vicki Mortimer with lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Tom Gibbons and casting by Jessica Ronane.

Other stars set to appear in the show include  Ambika Mod, Sue Perkins and Minnie Driver.

Every Brilliant Thing runs at @sohoplace until 8 November, with tickets on sale below.