Entertainment
8 March, 2026
Glimmering connections
CAIRNS audiences have yet another chance to experience exciting, quality theatre at the Bulmba-ja Arts Centre this week with the JUTE Theatre Company season opener, ‘Every Brilliant Thing’.
Starring Cairns’ own Jason Klarwein, the one-person play, written by the Olivier-Award-nominated Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, starts with the recollections of a child who begins compiling a list of life’s glimmers to help his mother through a period of depression. The audience journeys with him on the ride of his life.
Every Brilliant Thing follows on from last week’s short but powerful run of the multi-award nominated Crossing the Divide and the incredible performances from cast Sam Foster, Hayden Jones and Benjin Maza.
Speaking ahead of Every Brilliant Thing – which began with an electric preview on Wednesday night – Mr Klarwein said returning to perform in Cairns was fantastic on many levels, reuniting with JUTE, knowing some of his “well behaved” friends would be in the audience, and bringing an incredible piece of work to his old stomping ground.
“From the time I was 14 I’ve connected with JUTE many times throughout my career, so coming back to Cairns with this production really feels like coming full circle,” he said.
“After years on the road touring across Australia and New Zealand, it’s a thrill to return home.”
The play earned Matilda Awards for Best Independent Production and Best Performance in a Leading Role in 2023.
Mr Klarwein said audiences would experience “a comic journey” with plenty of laugh-out-loud surprises, despite the subject matter.
“The play accepts the flaws of family, and the flaws of human nature, and comes out the other side with optimism. That’s a good thing to come and witness,” he said.
The setting, also, provides a different experience in the JUTE space, with an up-close, intimate atmosphere.
“It’s a bit like coming into the character’s living room, with rugs, chairs, lamps and cushions,” Mr Klarwein said.
“But what appears to be very laid back then becomes a show. It’s a bit of a sleight of hand.”
Audience reaction has also been varied – in a good way.
Mr Klarwein said he has had some come up to him after the show and say it made them really laugh out loud, and “sometimes they come up and just hug me and thank me”.
“I think for a lot of people recognise themselves, they recognise someone in their family, and it makes them feel not alone,” he mused.
“The theatre can do something that film and TV can’t. You’re sitting in a room with a bunch of people having a similar sort of experience, and that kind of connectivity is different.”
He said the best description he had heard about Every Brilliant Thing was that it is “life affirming”.
Every Brilliant Thing is presented in association with Ipswich’s THAT Production Company and runs until 14 March at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre, 96 Abbott Street, Cairns.
Tickets are available at: www.bit.ly/4aV2JnN
