Every Brilliant Thing

WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF A FULL LIFE?

At Ryman, we believe the measure of a full life is one that gets richer with age.

Rediscover lost passions and plunge headfirst into new ones. Surround yourself with new people, old friends and close family. Live with opportunities and experiences at your doorstep.

That’s why we’re creating communities that challenge the expectations of ageing, and investing in organisations that bring joy and meaning to our residents and team members.

Ryman are proud sponsors of The Court Theatre.

KERRY Ryman Resident

NAU MAI HAERE MAI

Welcome to EveryBrilliantThing. To describe EveryBrilliantThing as a “play” doesn’t capture what makes it special. It is a theatrical, but even more so, a human experience. Created in 2013 by playwright Duncan Macmillan with comedian Jonny Donahoe and performed tonight by either Trubie Dylan-Smith or Nick Purdie, it doesn’t feel accurate to call it a “solo show” either. It is neither showy, nor solo. In a very real way, you—the audience—are the final cast members. Audience participation is nothing new, but here it gets to the heart of this remarkable piece; the writing, direction and the performance are predicated on trust. As a performance, EveryBrilliantThing depends on our collective willingness to make meaning and forge understanding together. Few things are more brilliant than that.

We knew that the creatives realising Every BrilliantThing for The Court Theatre had to have certain traits. They had to have a fully embedded understanding of performance as a craft, be comfortable with improvisation, and—put simply—to be kind. A sense of humour was essential too! Every single one of these things is true of each person involved in this piece. Having read (and loved) the script, it was only at the first read-through, when script, performers, and an audience of Court Theatre staff came together, did the full impact of EveryBrilliantThing register:

the raw honesty; the sadness, joy, and sweet comedy of it; the acute sense of all participating in the same experience, in the same space, and at the same time. Director Hillary Moulder, Nick, and Trubie have handled this precious thing with the care and warmth it deserves.

Part of our role as a theatre company is to explore the lights and shades of human experience with our audience, including those experiences that challenge us—personally and socially—such as mental health struggles and suicide. This production is a beautiful example of art’s capacity to take us on that journey in a sensitive and authentic way.

We are grateful to our season sponsor Ryman Healthcare, to our show sponsor Stuff, to the whole Court Theatre company and extended friends and whānau, and to our audiences. You are brilliant.

Tēna koutou, tēna koutou, tēna koutou katoa.

Steve Wakefield Executive Chair and Acting CE

Alison Walls Artistic Director

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CAST / KAHUI KIRIWHAKAARI

Trubie-Dylan Smith

Nick Purdie

CREATIVES / RINGATOI

Director ......................................................................................................................... Hillary Moulder

Stage Manager/Operator/Sound Designer .......................................................... Tim Bain

Costume Manager/Coordinator ................................................................. Daniella Salazar

Properties Manager ......................................................................................... Julian Southgate

Lighting Designer ............................................................................................................ Geoff Nunn

Workshop Manager ............................................................................................... Matthew Duffy

Production Support ............... Seth Edwards - Ellis, Edward Roche, Giles Tanner

EveryBrilliantThing was first produced by Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre, on 28 June 2013 at Ludlow Fringe Festival.

Running Time: 80 minutes with no interval

Content Advisory: contains frank conversations around mental health and suicide.

EveryBrilliantThing staged at The Court Theatre 6 April to 4 May 2024.

Proudly printed by Caxton

Acknowledgements: Grant Robertson and Lightsite for seating banks, Rachel, Nicky, Anotonia, Tina, Cathy and the entire Court Theatre Company for creating the list of every brilliant thing. Samuel Bingham & Charlie Rose Creative for photography & videography and Hyde Park Hire.

DUNCAN MACMILLAN PLAYWRIGHT/KAITITO

Duncan Macmillan is a writer for theatre, television and film. His theatre work includes Lungs;People,PlacesandThings;Every BrilliantThing;Rosmersholm (adapt. Henrik Ibsen); 1984 (adapt. George Orwell, co-written and co-directed with Robert Icke); CityOf Glass (adapt. Paul Auster) and 2071 (co-written with Chris Rapley). Other work includes The ForbiddenZone;WunschlosesUnglück (adapt. Peter Handke); Reise Durch die Nacht (adapt. Friederike Mayröcker) and the English language version of Thomas Ostermeier’s AnEnemyOf ThePeople (Duke of York’s Theatre).

His work has been performed throughout the world, including the National Theatre, the Old Vic, the Royal Court, Almeida, Barbican, St Ann’s Warehouse, Melbourne Theatre Company, Berliner Ensemble, Hamburg Schauspielhaus,

Schauspielhaus Köln, Burgtheater Wien, Vesturport, Kansallisteatteri, Nationaltheatret Oslo and in the repertory of the Schaubühne Berlin, as well as the Edinburgh Festival, the Manchester International Festival, Salzburg Festival, Festival d’Avignon and Theatertreffen, in the West End and on Broadway.

His screen work has appeared on the BBC, HBO, Netflix and at the Berlin and London Film Festivals. Reise Durch die Nacht was awarded the Nestroy Preis for Best German Language Production. Both 1984 and People,Placesand Things were nominated for Best New Play at the Olivier Awards, and Rosmersholm was nominated for Best Revival.

As a long standing partner of The Court Theatre, we’re proud to support Every Brilliant Thing!

HILLARY MOULDER

DIRECTOR/RINGATOHU

When I first read EveryBrilliantThing I stopped. I took a moment and paused to appreciate the enormity of what I had just read. I felt compelled to smile and then laugh and cry at the same time. The warmth and generosity in which the words have been chosen and delivered is nothing short of genius.

My hope for this play, or as I prefer to call it, conversation, is for everyone in the room to feel like they are a part of it. The unique way in which it is delivered and shared provokes connection and a joint sense that this is bigger than us. It is an expression of hope and the many forms it can take.

A comedy, yes that’s right, a comedy, about the dealings of depression and what that encompasses. The way in which it is

communicated sheds light on something we most commonly refer to as dark and heavy.

For me the most rewarding creative jobs are those that can benefit someone’s life; adding something to their journey in this world that makes them feel truly seen and not alone. We acknowledge our privilege and responsibility in the telling of this story that is shared by all of us in some way.

I am incredibly thankful to have worked with Tim, Trubie, and Nick who are simply phenomenal humans with the kindest and most giving of hearts. I am so very grateful.

I hope from this day forward you can find a little joy in every brilliant thing.

CAST / KAHUI KIRIWHAKAARI

Trubie is best known for being an entertainer and presenter on Sunday mornings kids’ show What Now? (Whitebait Media).

His previous Court Theatre credits include ThePrincessandTheFrog(andTheRobber!) and The Wind in the Willows. He was also a Court Jester, regularly performing in Scared Scriptless.

His other theatre credits include Beauty and the Beast - The Pantomime (GMG Productions), He Kura Kōrero (Circa Theatre), TheBaldSoprano (Arcade Theatre Company), KingArthur (Rollicking Entertainment Ltd), RedRidingRobynHood and Shakespeare As You Write It (New Zealand Playhouse Tour 2018).

Trubie has performed as an improviser through New Zealand, the US and Canada. He was the Creative Director of Dunedin improv troupe Improsaurus and coached improv in Otago from 2008.

NICK PURDIE

Nick’s (he/him) previous Court Theatre credits include BloodBrothers,MaryPoppins,Legally Blonde:TheMusical,JerseyBoys,Nextto Normal, and SomethingRotten!.

Most recently he was the Associate Director for both New Zealand and Australian tours of the Selladoor Worldwide production of MadagascarTheMusical and appeared in the New Zealand tour of JerseyBoys.

Other notable credits include Onstage Swing in The Sound of Music (West End Palladium International Tour), Bert in MaryPoppins (Invercargill Musical Theatre), Twilight Robbery (York Stage, UK), Sister Act (Showbiz Christchurch and Invercargill Musical Theatre), AltarBoys (Fortune Theatre), Corny Collins in the New Zealand Premiere of Hairspray (Wellington Musical Theatre), and Underscore_ andGardensMagic (WITCH Music Theatre).

Off stage, Nick is an Associate Producer for global theatre producers, GMG Productions.

Nick would like to dedicate this performance to his fiance Diana and 6 month old Amelia, his most important brilliant things.

CREATIVES / RINGATOI

Hillary is an accomplished performer with a Diploma in Performing Arts. She proudly holds associate credentials in Modern and Tap from the International Dance Teachers Association and is a proud member of Equity New Zealand.

Hillary has performed in productions such as Chicago,JesusChristSuperstar,JerseyBoys, TimeMachine,LesLiaisonsDangereuses,A StreetcarNamedDesire,AChristmasCarol, and EscapefromHauntedHouse. Additionally, she showcased her choreographic talent in LadiesNight,Once,FlagonsandFoxtrots, NexttoNormal,MatildaTheMusical,That BloodyWoman, and directed the enchanting shows SenseandSensibility,AFlightBefore Christmas and now EveryBrilliantThing.

Tim started his association with The Court Theatre in 2004 as an Ambassador as part of the Education programme. Following that he worked in a variety of roles in Front of House, Stage Management and even Props and Costume.

His Court Theatre ASM/Stage Management credits include Frankenstein,LadiesNight, SongsforNobodies,LegallyBlonde:The Musical,August:OsageCounty,MAMIL, and StagWeekend. Since 2022 he has been the Production Manager and overseen more than twenty productions including RENT,Sense andSensibility,NexttoNormal,Appropriate and SomethingRotten!.

Hillary’s repertoire encompasses diverse works such as MatildaTheMusical,Beautyand theBeast-ThePantomime,AFineRomance, WeWereDangerous (Piki Films), Chats with Pat,Nine,ShortlandStreet,Oliver,Meand MyGirl,AliceinWonderland,TheWasps, and Hamlet. She has also had the privilege of performing with institutions like Disneyland Paris and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Hillary is a strong supporter of equality, diversity and the power and importance of acceptance in theatre and the world alike.

Other theatre credits include Cinderella (GMG Productions), TheMousetrap (Lunchbox), LesMisérables,MissSaigon, (Showbiz) HAIR, BeautyandtheBeast, and CATS (NASDA), and Stage Management for large outdoor events such as Sparks, Lantern Festival and Christmas in the Park.

He was the Producer of The World Buskers Festival for several years including its 25th Anniversary festival. Festival Highlights included Nina Conti, Ginger Minj, Perle Noire, Jett Adore, Urzila Carlson, Tape Face, Justine Smith, BenDeLaCreme, and Jinkx Monsoon.

HELP AND SUPPORT

SOME OF THE CONTENT IN EVERY BRILLIANT THING MAY BE TRIGGERING, CHALLENGING OR DISTRESSING.

If you need to talk with someone regarding the topics raised by this show the following organisations can offer help and support:

Need to talk?

Free call or text 1737.

Talk with a trained counsellor, 24 hours a day.

Lifeline

0800 543 354 (0800 Lifeline)

Or free text HELP to 4357, 24 hours a day.

Youthline

0800 376 633

Free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz, 24 hours a day.

You can find more resources and helplines through the QR Code above or by searching mentalhealth.org.nz/helplines

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Having the first adult chat with your neice where she asks for advice. Closing Night parties. The surprised sound my cat makes when I pat him while he’s snoozing. Christmas afternoon where the stress of dinner is over and everyone is half asleep around the house That first cup of tea in the morning. Hozier. Broccoli. Tea and Toast. Giggling in bed. Waking up to my granddaughter’s beautiful, smiling face every morning. Eating pears from mum’s garden, straight from the tree. Waking in the night to the sound of rain. Love. Creating something out of nothing. Tailored clothes. A fresh coat of paint. Playing D&D. Toy shops. Skyscrapers. People doing what they’re good at. My cat purring on my chest. Collaborating on a project. The first tomato ripening in the garden. A good cryptic crossword. Sparkly nails. Sunflowers. A long bubble bath. Sunrises and sunsets. Singing loudly in the car. Sausage dogs. Putting the final piece of the puzzle in. Learning a new language. Making someone smile or laugh. Biting into a donut. The look on the children’s face entering the auditorium on the first day of rehearsals for a kids show. A warm hug. Mum’s banana cake. Rain on the tin roof. Burning scented candles A playlist hitting just right. A shared laugh around the table. A sign/gesture to say ‘I get it’, ‘I understand you’, ‘you are not alone’. Snuggling in bed on a Sunday morning with the kids. A classic Canterbury winter day: icy cold in the shade, yet hot in the sun under a vast and cloudless blue sky. Knowing you have a day to yourself and finally drop off the kids to school. A cup of tea on a cold day. Finally touching down to visit family in the UK. Opening nights. Improv workshops. Seeing people’s careers develop. Hot chocolate. Friday nights, 10:15. Sunrise on the beach with a hot coffee in winter time. The laughter of a toddler during a children show. Bubbles. Fresh cut flowers in the house. Sunny days. Being in the garden. Achieving something challenging. Craft. Friday after work. Inside jokes. Going for a walk at dusk. Watching ducks on a lake. Cuddling. Laughing so hard you can’t breathe. Seeing someone look at you with love. Finding a good book. Organising your bookshelf. Watching a musical. Giving the perfect gift Hot coffee on rainy days. Dad’s lemon & sugar crepes. Warm summer nights at the beach. Pianists. William Shakespeare. Watercolour painting. Playing silly games with my nephews. Origami. When you hear a really good song you forgot even existed. Rainbows. Gelato. Hot fudge sundaes. Swimming in the rain. The silence of snowfall. A brand new diary. Crossing something off a to-do list. Thunderstorms. Fresh, clean sheets. Whale-watching. Making someone else smile. Taking your bra off at the end of the day. The smell of pine trees at Christmas. Those one of a kind laugh out loud movies. Making memories. My cats purring. Licking cake mix off a spoon. Saturday morning sleep ins. Texting instead of calling. The first big breath after reaching the peak of a mountain. Playing a Draw 4 card in a game of Uno. Morgan Freeman’s voice. Snow on the Port Hills. A steaming hot bowl of spaghetti bolognaise. Singing in the shower. An online clothes order arriving. Swimming in the sea. Feeling the sun on your skin. Skiing down the side of a mountain. Easter eggs. Birthdays. Neighborhood cats. Tabletop roleplaying games. The moon. Dogs. Catching yawns from people. Sun showers. Spotting animals out the window on road trips. Laughter you can’t keep in. Handmade art. Rainbow umbrellas. Wombats. Unexpectedly saying something exactly in sync with someone. When the light catches on something prismatic and throws rainbows everywhere. Getting recognised when you did something awesome. Getting green lights all the way. Hot chips dipped in a thickshake. When text fits nicely on a page. That moment when the theatre lights dim and the audience goes quiet. A smile. Cheese platters. Watching a show with a friend.

If you had to write a list, where would you start?