From the team behind the acclaimed ‘A Girl Called Owl’ comes a story about two sisters. A play about silence and noise. About waiting. About old habits, blood bonds, miracles and spare parts. A play about the strange, powerful moments that carve into memory like water through sand.

Susan is adopted. Katelyn is her younger sister – the miracle baby. Susan is a lawyer, wife and mother. Katelyn just rolled her car down a mountain. In the hospital, pain meds and memory twinkle under fluorescent lights, circling ever closer to the truth.

The story behind the story:
Briony always felt that A Girl Called Owl was eerily connected to her own life. As if Jon had written her play (she wasn’t yet cast when he wrote it). She found herself thinking ‘but how does he know?’. Given the success of the partnership and her thirst to work on something challenging and beautiful again, she commissioned Jon to write a new play loosely inspired by events in her family. Once again, he wrote all kinds of things she hadn’t actually told him. Creepy. This time she asked for a two-hander so that she wouldn’t be so lonely on stage.

Media & Reviews

Press Release

Review of Every Beautiful Thing by Tracey Saunders

Review of Every Beautiful Thing by Theresa Smith

Review of Every Beautiful Thing by A Girl

Review of Every Beautiful Thing by Daniella Conibear

Review

Press Release

Profile: Jazzara Jaslin for Every Beautiful Thing

Profile: Briony Horwitz for Every Beautiful Thing

Profile: Tara Notcutt for Every Beautiful Thing

Audience Responses

***** Five star rating - Superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful, funny, insightful writing. Subtle, clever directing. Wonderful performances from talented actors. And beautifully designed.

beautiful language

excellent performances. beautiful, clever, evocative set and lighting and sound. touching script- but will return to get it more and appreciate it more (some difficulty hearing some words near the beginning of the hospital scene).

It's a sketch for a play rather than fully a play, but interesting to note the audience's enthusiasm. People - especially younger people - are obviously thirsty for work that speaks to their hearts, even if the art is not worked through as much as it might be. The older sister struggled with some unconvincing dialogue. But this is all a sign of a whole commotion of theatre expression going on, like Toronto in the 1970s (I was there) or London in the 1590s (I wasn't!). Sterkte!

Step aside Chekov. Jon Keevy delves into the very depths of the female psyche. Briony and Gisara did Jon proud. Tara has the wisdom of a 165 year old. Like Mozart maybe she is the reincarnation and amalgamation of millions of directors that came before her.

My quote from Facebook: I watched the play this evening. It is an exquisite peice of writing with beautiful spot on performances and direction. Thank you Jon, tara, Briony and Jazzara. Drama that left me feeling relaxed and satisfied.

Creates an emotive connection with the audience on different levels.

OUtstanding performance, riveting, wonderful acting and great script and directing.....

I enjoyed both this play and the place very much. One thing that struck about the venue is how friendly and welcoming everyone was. Very good food too. Thank you!

I thought it was very good. Tight, compact,intense and very well acted. Possibly enjoyed Owl more. Pity I live so far out of town,otherwise I would come more often. I like the concept.

Wow! I haven't seen theatre like this in too long (because Cape Town theatre is often shit). The script was brilliant, and the acting outstanding. I didn't fidget once and I was upset when it ended - I could have carried on watching the story for another hour - I was absorbed into the world! And also I was very moved by it - I went on the whole emotional journey with the characters! So, to sum up: it was poes-good. :) (And the peeps who went with me agree 100% and want me to mention that this comes from them too)

Deeply layered play, moving acting and skilfully directed.

Excellent script and acting

The acting started off a little stilted (after the first childhood scene), but gathered momentum. The writing was beautiful if a little contrived at times. Overall an absorbing piece of theatre. We ate downstairs afterwards and the food was nice but very simple for the price - I had a smoked trout salad, for R73 I think, which I could have put together in 5 minutes at home. But a lovely atmosphere and attentive service.

Characters and relationship utterly believable. Very thought provoking. Very well cast.

Great writing and good performances but not 100% sure if it works . Not sure why I feel this way but I felt uninvolved and disconnected throughout the piece. This may have more to do with me than with the piece. I felt little was required of me other than to witness this relationship. I left feeling er um. But perhaps just not for me.

Great writing and good performances but not 100% sure if it works . Not sure why I feel this way but I felt uninvolved and disconnected throughout the piece. This may have more to do with me than with the piece. I felt little was required of me other than to witness this relationship. I left feeling er um. But perhaps just not for me.