The acclaimed interactive play Every Brilliant Thing, exploring mental health, resilience, and life's simple joys, will be staged at the Kamatha Studio at the BMICH in Colombo from 5 to 8 November.
Presented by The Peterite Arts Foundation and directed by Theruni Indrapala, this upcoming run brings Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe’s internationally renowned script to local audiences in a solo performance by veteran actor Mario de Soyza.
The production centers on a protagonist who, starting at age seven, begins assembling an expansive list of life's daily delights to support a mother suffering from chronic depression.
Spanning key milestones across the narrator's life, the list expands to over a million entries.
Departing from traditional theatre setups, the play relies heavily on an interactive dynamic where audience members actively participate by reading aloud specific entries and stepping into minor character roles throughout the performance.
This staging represents a notable milestone for Mario de Soyza, who possesses over two decades of theatrical experience across major Sri Lankan productions, including roles in A Streetcar Named Desire, Evita, and Fun Home.
Venturing into solo non-musical theatre for this project, de Soyza noted the exceptional strength of the script and cited the performance as a tribute to prominent local theatre mentors who shaped his career.
Following its debut staging of Caught in the Net in 2024, The Peterite Arts Foundation partnered on the venture to further its commitment to socially conscious drama.
In line with its core message of hope and empathy, the production has partnered with World Vision Lanka to advocate for youth mental wellbeing through the Every Mind Matters initiative.
Tickets and additional performance details are currently accessible through official digital channels managed by The Peterite Arts Foundation.