Daniel Radcliffe to Star in Broadway Premiere of Every Brilliant Thing, A Play About Mental Health
Actor Daniel Radcliffe is set to make his Broadway return in the critically acclaimed one-person play "Every Brilliant Thing", which tackles the sensitive topic of depression. The show will premiere at the Hudson Theatre in New York from February 21 to May 24, 2026.
Written by Duncan Macmillan and originally starring Jonny Donahoe, the play has been a global phenomenon since its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014. It tells the story of a child who reacts to their mother's suicide attempt, making a list of all the things that make life worth living – with the audience encouraged to join in by shouting out the listed reasons. As the child grows into an adult, the list evolves to include words from adults who need reasons to remain hopeful.
The play has been tailored for various audiences, incorporating local references and themes in its productions worldwide. In Greece, it was infused with 90s Greek popular culture, while in Singapore, a reference to a specific brand of ice cream was added.
Radcliffe is no stranger to Broadway, having previously performed in "The Lifespan of a Fact", "Privacy", and the record-breaking run of "Merrily We Roll Along". The actor, who rose to fame as a child star in the Harry Potter films, has been making waves on stage since 2007.
Director Duncan Macmillan is thrilled to have Radcliffe join the production. "He has the intelligence, quick wit and charm to roll with the spontaneous moments that the show invites," he said. "He has huge depth and humanity – I couldn't be more thrilled."
As part of his commitment to mental health awareness, Radcliffe's involvement in "Every Brilliant Thing" is expected to bring attention to this important topic, particularly among a new generation of young people.
Actor Daniel Radcliffe is set to make his Broadway return in the critically acclaimed one-person play "Every Brilliant Thing", which tackles the sensitive topic of depression. The show will premiere at the Hudson Theatre in New York from February 21 to May 24, 2026.
Written by Duncan Macmillan and originally starring Jonny Donahoe, the play has been a global phenomenon since its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014. It tells the story of a child who reacts to their mother's suicide attempt, making a list of all the things that make life worth living – with the audience encouraged to join in by shouting out the listed reasons. As the child grows into an adult, the list evolves to include words from adults who need reasons to remain hopeful.
The play has been tailored for various audiences, incorporating local references and themes in its productions worldwide. In Greece, it was infused with 90s Greek popular culture, while in Singapore, a reference to a specific brand of ice cream was added.
Radcliffe is no stranger to Broadway, having previously performed in "The Lifespan of a Fact", "Privacy", and the record-breaking run of "Merrily We Roll Along". The actor, who rose to fame as a child star in the Harry Potter films, has been making waves on stage since 2007.
Director Duncan Macmillan is thrilled to have Radcliffe join the production. "He has the intelligence, quick wit and charm to roll with the spontaneous moments that the show invites," he said. "He has huge depth and humanity – I couldn't be more thrilled."
As part of his commitment to mental health awareness, Radcliffe's involvement in "Every Brilliant Thing" is expected to bring attention to this important topic, particularly among a new generation of young people.
. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great that Daniel Radcliffe wants to raise awareness about mental health, but let's be real, he's not exactly the poster child for mental wellness himself 
. I've seen his tweets about depression and anxiety, and let's just say they're not as inspiring as "look at me, I'm a famous actor doing a play about mental health" 
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. And don't even get me started on how they're "tailoring" the play for different audiences with local references and themes. Just another way to pander to people's emotions, if you ask me 
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so happy for Daniel Radcliffe... again 
he's had such an iconic career it's nice to see him taking on another challenging role like this 
and i love that the play incorporates audience participation – it's a great way to make mental health discussions more engaging & accessible 
what's interesting is how they've tailored the show for different audiences in different countries... does that say something about global mental health needs or just how adaptable a 90s British pop culture reference can be 
. I think what I love most about this show is how it encourages us to put our hands up and shout out all the things that make life worth living – it's like we're all in this together, you know? 
And the fact that Duncan Macmillan has tailored the play for different audiences, incorporating local references and themes, just shows how much love and care he's put into creating a safe space for people to share their thoughts and feelings. It's gonna be an amazing show, for sure! 
especially when you're in the public eye. i hope its gonna help people feel less alone and more hopeful i've seen friends deal with anxiety and depression and it can feel like everything is just too hard sometimes but having some spark of light to hold onto can make all the difference 
he's such a talented actor & i love how he's using his platform 4 mental health awareness its so impurtant 4 young ppl 2 know they're not alone n stuff we should all b shouting out reasons 2 stay hopeful 
He's already shown his acting chops on stage before and this play sounds so powerful about mental health. It's amazing that he's using his platform for such an important cause, especially for the younger generation who need to know they're not alone 
you know what really struck me about this play... its not just about the mental health struggles of the protagonist, but how we all can help by sharing what makes life worth living 
think about it, when was the last time you told someone why they're still here? 
the way they've incorporated audience participation is genius - it makes you feel invested in the story 
and as an actor, he can bring so much depth and emotion to the role 
let's hope that this production will help spark conversations and raise awareness among young people 
. Can we please have some substance behind this awareness campaign? 
. I've seen some of the versions they've done worldwide and each one's unique, which is awesome. Radcliffe's been doing this for a while now, but this role seems especially important since he started out as a kid actor. Let's hope it brings in a new crowd who'll learn something about mental health 
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