A cartoon illustration of an eccentric therapist with glasses spinning spiral patterns, white hair, a mustache, and a gray suit with a blue bow tie, holding a small black item in one hand. The background is teal, with text that reads 'A masterful telling of the parental experience,' 'THERAPIST ZERO,' and 'Written & performed by Brian Leonard.'

Tuesday, May 12 - 7:30pm

Wednesday, May 13 - 7:30pm

Actors Theater
4 Prince’s Street
East Sussex, UK

Buy Tickets
Purple graffiti-style text reads 'Brighton Fringe' on a black background.

Therapist Zero is a raw, darkly comic solo performance written and performed by Brian Leonard and directed by acclaimed theater artist Ken Sonkin. This deeply personal one-man show explores the complexities of parenting a brilliant but brilliant but emotionally complex daughter through two decades, 28 therapists, and a mental healthcare system that often felt more confounding than supportive.

The story unfolds in sharply observed vignettes - some heartbreaking, others hilarious - as Leonard weaves together his daughter's journey with searing memories of his own unconventional childhood. Raised in a chaotic, often neglectful home, Leonard slept on the couch until high school, started smoking at age seven, and was once forgotten during a family trip to Niagara Falls. These formative experiences surface in surprising and poignant ways as he tries to parent differently, but finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about love, responsibility, and repair.

Directed with clarity and compassion by Sonkin, Therapist Zero balances unflinching honesty with unexpected warmth and wit. At its core, the piece asks: What do you do when nothing works? And how do you keep showing up anyway?

A story of generational echo, fierce persistence, and the slow, imperfect path toward healing, Therapist Zero is both uniquely personal and deeply universal.

A black and white photograph of a man wearing glasses and a hat, holding a pencil near his face, with a serious expression.

Therapist Zero
Oct
16
to Oct 18

Therapist Zero

Therapist Zero is a raw, darkly comic solo performance written and performed by Brian Leonard and directed by acclaimed theater artist Ken Sonkin. This deeply personal one-man show explores the complexities of parenting a brilliant but brilliant but emotionally complex daughter through two decades, 28 therapists, and a mental healthcare system that often felt more confounding than supportive.

The story unfolds in sharply observed vignettes - some heartbreaking, others hilarious - as Leonard weaves together his daughter's journey with searing memories of his own unconventional childhood. Raised in a chaotic, often neglectful home, Leonard slept on the couch until high school, started smoking at age seven, and was once forgotten during a family trip to Niagara Falls. These formative experiences surface in surprising and poignant ways as he tries to parent differently, but finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about love, responsibility, and repair.

Directed with clarity and compassion by Sonkin, Therapist Zero balances unflinching honesty with unexpected warmth and wit. At its core, the piece asks: What do you do when nothing works? And how do you keep showing up anyway?

A story of generational echo, fierce persistence, and the slow, imperfect path toward healing, Therapist Zero is both uniquely personal and deeply universal.

View Event →