‘My Brother’s a Genius’ is a comedic but equally incredibly moving and heartfelt play and deeply raw spoken word performance. It’s splendidly written by Debris Stevenson and expertly crafted and directed by Eleanor Manners, with rhythmic music composed by Jammz. A co-production between Sheffield Theatres, The National Youth Theatre and Theatre Centre brings a bewitching ‘indigo’ tone to the Sheffield Playhouse.
We follow the story of twins Daisy (Jess Senanayake) and Luke (Tyrese Walters) from childhood to adult life as they navigate neurodivergence, the class system and familial relationships. We watch how their friendship flies, falls and drowns throughout. They experience the world through different lenses: Daisy is named an “idiot” and goes to Circus School, while Luke is labelled a “genius” and joins SpaceX. We see how these labels mold their lifelong experiences… but will they be anything more than a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’? Are the lives they’re living a reality or just fictitious?
The technical elements of the play were impeccable, and a definite standout. Erin Guan’s design of costume and set was simple but was consistently used by actors in playful and unique ways. I especially liked the contrast of Daisy’s more colourful outfits and Luke’s plain clothes, representing his masking, as well as the playground-esc appearance of the set, which the cast interacted with and moved. Jess Brigham’s lighting design was truly sublime. Parts of the set lit up from within, making staging even more ambient. The deep, rich monotone hues during critical scenes were very pleasing and aided the storytelling massively. I really commend the design team, as the performance was exceptionally visually compelling.
Jess Senanayake as Daisy is a powerhouse. Her performance was charismatic and natural, with many tasteful representations of tics and sims. I was utterly enthralled, particularly in scenes where Daisy was the narrator – as the story became quieter, more intuitive and introspective. Their range of expression and emotional delivery was palpable, and they had the audience laughing, smiling and crying along with them. I definitely was.
Tyrese Walters as Luke was also fabulously strong. He represented Luke’s masking and discomfort surrounding his neurodivergence so well, with small moments such as wiping his hand after Daisy touches him standing out. He too showed a wide range of skills and flexibility, capturing the attention of audiences with his charm as Luke, but I especially appreciated the comedy he brought to the role of the Ringmaster.
I found myself immersed in the scenes where the actors spoke in unison, such as during some of the spoken word poetry and when they spoke as the main characters’ parents. It gave the sense that they really are one in the same, which was only aided by the actors’ perfect pacing of the story. The actors cleverly and swiftly move between characters, which was easy to keep up with as an audience member. Senanayake and Walters also have a noticeable positive dynamic between them that really shines through in the opening and closing scenes. Their energy was literally infectious!
There were many enchanting moments within the play, but I think by far the most heart-wrenching was the ‘take off’ to Mars and the ship’s crash. The potently red lighting alongside the tear-jerking performance by the actors evoked a phenomenal silence from viewers, which was certainly deserved.
‘My Brother’s a Genius’ is an unmissable play. I went in very unsure of if I would enjoy the poetry of it all. But with a bitter-sweet plot that’s paced just right, led by a team that does not fail to fly through any hurdle, it is a truly compelling and beautiful performance.
‘My Brother’s a Genius’ runs until 14th February at the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, with tickets and more information available at https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/. The tour then continues around the country until March 2026, with more information available at https://www.theatre-centre.co.uk/shows/my-brothers-a-genius.
Reviewer: Natalia Prucnal
Reviewed: 30th January 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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