SMALL JOYS AND BIG EMOTIONS: LENNY HENRY DELIVERS WITH HUMOUR AND HEART

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Another theatre ticked off the list for me, and Every Brilliant Thing at Soho Place made the visit one to remember. The venue is slick and modern, with a clever central stage wrapped by the stalls and two higher tiers. Whichever seat you snag, you’re never far from the action. From the stalls, you’re not just an observer; you’re woven into the action as the performer moves through the corner aisle walkways.

LENNY HENRY HOLDS THE ROOM IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND

This production is unusual in that the role is shared between five different actors throughout the run. On my night, the performance was led by Lenny Henry, and I couldn’t have been happier. He has an incredibly warm, grounding stage presence that makes you feel safe in his hands. Exactly what you need for a piece like this. He strikes the perfect balance between humour and sincerity, allowing the play’s sensitive themes to land without feeling heavy-handed.

One of the things that stood out was his ease with the audience. This is a show that actively involves those watching. Lenny has a remarkable way of drawing people in, making interactions feel natural and unforced. Even in moments where he made a small slip (understandable when working with precise cues), he simply laughed along with the audience. The creative team jumped in to get things back on track, but far from breaking the spell, these moments actually strengthened the connection in the room.

A STORY TOLD WITH HONESTY, WARMTH, AND JUST THE RIGHT TOUCH OF HUMOUR

There’s very little in the way of set design, and that works entirely in the show’s favour. With subject matter that is both deeply personal and universally relatable, the absence of flashy scenery keeps the focus exactly where it needs to be. The words, the emotions, and the shared experience between performer and audience. Lighting and sound are used simply but effectively to shift tone and focus, and the openness of the space makes everything feel immediate and honest.

Every Brilliant Thing is about finding the light in dark places, recognising the value of small joys, and the ways we try to help the people we love. It’s tender, funny, and unexpectedly uplifting. By the end of the evening, I felt like I’d been part of something quietly extraordinary. If you’re after a show that’s intimate, humane, and likely to stay with you for days, this is one to book.

Every Brilliant Thing is running at Soho Place until Saturday 8 November.

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Photo Credit: Helen Murray