The lengths we go to for love is a theme that has been covered before, but here’s a new take. The long-awaited Queensland premiere of the uplifting play Every Brilliant Thing is a tribute to all of the magical (and mundane) moments that make life worth living.

This play by acclaimed UK playwright Duncan McMillan has delighted audiences around the globe and is being brought to life here by acclaimed Brisbane actor Jason Klarwein in a one-hander by Ipswich-based THAT Production Company.

THAT founder and artistic director Timothy Wynn has called on his experience directing 20 plays for THAT since 2009 to ensure this production hits the right note.

It’s a comedy about family, love, loss and hope. It centres on a young boy’s attempts to bring his mother out of depression by making her a list of every brilliant thing in the world. Wynn says while the play is poignant, it’s also surprisingly funny given the subject matter.

“I think it’s a play that deals with some things that we might struggle to talk about – suicide among them,” says Wynn. “We were talking only the other day in the rehearsal room about the antidote to these feelings that we might have – of hopelessness and despair, and the perfect antidote to them – joy.

“And it is really interesting to see a play that talks so honestly and openly and stigma free about these issues and it has that comedic element too. This play takes all of those things and puts it into the story of one person and their experiences, but imbues that with humour and hope. It is confronting something that should be sombre and serious with levity and joy.”

The show involves the audience, but Wynn reassures people that “this isn’t some bachelorette party where people are going to get dragged up on stage”.

‘This is about really focusing on that relationship between the storyteller and the audience,” he says. “And the way we are looking to engage the audience is through a really loving and tender and very relaxed and cheeky kind of engagement.

“There are no gotcha moments. And no one has to do anything they don’t want to do. But I think coming in and listening to this story being told, people will feel compelled to be a part of it and participate and help Jason tell the story.”

It’s a challenge actor Jason Klarwein has revelled in and one which he says makes every show different.

“Essentially, this is a play that really connects with the audience – there is no line here,” Klarwein says. “It leaves audiences with a slight transformational quality and that is why it has been so popular.”

Wynn says Every Brilliant Thing was scheduled to coincide with Queensland Mental Health Week to help raise awareness and to prompt conversations about the challenges of life.

“We are deliberately putting this season across Queensland Mental Health Week to bring a new lighter take and hopefully stimulate discussion,” he says. “And we want to offer some encouragement to people who have experience around this, which statistically is probably most people.

“There’s a lot of dialogue around suicide and mental health and how we should be talking about it. But the more we talk about it, we find ourselves confronted with this stigmatisation and we have to confront the reasons we weren’t talking about it and then rip that band-aid off and go into uncharted territory and try and do that safely and responsibly.”

Every Brilliant Thing, New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts, West End, October 4-21 

metroarts.com.au

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