Every Brilliant Thing is a play written by Duncan Macmillan in the 2010s that tells the story of a heartfelt journey through a mother's suicidal depression and its repercussions on her family.
Highly innovative, it has seen great success on stages in the UK and worldwide.
Ahmed El-Attar, who also worked on the mise-en-scene, translated and adapted the play into Arabic. The translation was part of a bigger project titled "Theatre in Translation," which aimed to translate 24 contemporary plays by European playwrights into Arabic, each representing a different European country.
In its Egyptian version, the play features the Cairo-based Syrian actress Nanda Mohamed as the protagonist of the monodrama.
The play uses cultural connotations related to Egypt, making it very accessible to viewers, who are, at times, invited to participate in the performance.
The cultural references and interactions with the audience make the play particularly engaging and add a breeze of warmth to the otherwise somber topic of one of the worst psychological ailments.
Another component emphasising hope is the list of "all brilliant things" that Nanda experiences in life, which is partially read during the performance.
Read the full review here.
The play was staged several times in Cairo, receiving a full house on each consecutive run. It proved equally successful in its staging in Lebanon, at Beirut's Zico House and Studio Laban and Sharjah, UAE.
"The upcoming tour is part of a broader vision to bring contemporary theatre to a wider audience in Egypt, offering an interactive experience that celebrates life's small joys," reads the press release.
"The play invites audiences to actively participate in shaping the performance, making each show a unique and immersive experience. Supported by the British Council, the tour provides more audiences the opportunity to enjoy a theatrical journey filled with emotion and humor."
The tour will bring this special performance to several cities, including Assiut and Minya in Upper Egypt and Alexandria and Mansoura in the Delta.
The programme of the tour is as follows:
Assiut – El-Samayeen Theatre – 8 and 9 April, 7pm
Minya – Jesuit Theatre – 11 and 12 April, 7pm
Alexandria – Jesuit Theatre – 30 April and 1 May, 7pm
Mansoura – Misr Public Library – 3 and 4 May, 7pm
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