Every Brilliant Thing is a one-person play that features different actors across its 14-week run. I had the chance to watch Ambika Mod take on this ambitious challenge, guiding us through the life of her character, beginning at the age of seven, when she is first confronted with her mother’s attempted suicide.
This is a profoundly moving story that highlights the small joys around us and the little things that can make life worth living. From Club Penguin to the joy of sharing a book with someone and seeing them love it too, the play reminds us of the beauty in seemingly ordinary moments.
Although technically a one-woman show, this production cleverly incorporates a great deal of planned audience participation. Each performance sees audience members randomly chosen to read out lines, play small roles, or even act out key moments in the character’s life. Throughout the play, Ambika builds a list of reasons to live, begun as a way to help her mother, which is shared among the audience. If chosen, when your number is called, you read aloud the phrase you’ve been given, adding another item to her list.
Ambika’s quick wit was astonishing. Her sharp humour and improvisational skill shone as she bounced off the unpredictable contributions of audience members. Whether it was a light-hearted moment of library flirting, the heavy silence of a car ride with her father, or even an accidental phone ringing mid-show, Ambika wove everything seamlessly into the narrative.
She was so perfectly cast that it’s hard for me to imagine anyone else in the role. And yet, that’s part of what makes this production so special, each actor will bring their own unique energy and interpretation, making every performance a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The immersive nature of the play, with the audience woven into the story itself, made it feel as though we weren’t just watching a character’s life unfold, but were part of it.
Overall, Every Brilliant Thing is an incredibly original and heartfelt production. It’s the kind of show you could see more than once, just to experience how different actors, and different audiences, shape its magic.
Every Brilliant Thing runs until 8th November at Soho Place with tickets available at @sohoplace | London’s New West End Theatre in Soho
Reviewer: Zain Russell
Reviewed: 11th September 2025
North West End UK Rating: