This is a must see production — a sensational production performed by an impressive cast
Presented by: State Theatre Company South Australia and Sydney Theatre Company
Reviewed: 5 April, 2025
After a hugely successful national tour in 2023, The Dictionary of Lost Words has returned to Adelaide for an encore season, thanks to State Theatre Company South Australia.
Based on the Australian and internationally best selling book by Pip Williams, The Dictionary of Lost Words is a brilliant and moving production that speaks to modern audiences. It follows the story of Esme Nicoll, the daughter of one of the employees of the business who is developing the Oxford English Dictionary. We meet Esme at age four in 1886. As the show progresses and Esme grows up, she begins to notice that certain kinds of words are being omitted in the final print, which is curated entirely by men. These words were used and submitted for inclusion by women, the poor and those that were looked down upon. Lest they be lost forever, Esme took it upon herself to save these words and over the course of her life collected hundred upon hundreds of ‘lost words’ and met some incredible people who shaped her life and her dictionary.
This production is a true masterpiece of theatrical brilliance. From the very start through to the end, you hang onto every word. Time flies — you forget that its runtime is close to three hours. Playwright Verity Laughton has done a remarkable job at adapting Pip Williams’ work for the stage. All the key beats of the book are captured perfectly and the script moves with great pace.
The Dictionary of Lost Words is a truly a wonderful example of ensemble theatre at its finest. Each cast member works hand-in-hand with each other, with many switching between several roles.
Shannen Alyce Quan as Esme Nicoll captures every nuance of this role perfectly. From the fidgety four year old movements and speech patterns through to a young adult, every moment of their performance is believable. There is so much depth behind Esme, but Quan tackles this role head-on, delivering a powerful performance.
There are so many magical moments delivered from the rest of the cast. Kathryn Adams switches faultlessly between Lizzie Lester, Mrs Smythe and Maria. Her accent work is brilliant and she brings so much light and shade to each role. Johnny Nasser, who plays Harry Nicoll (Esme’s father), brings a wonderfully caring warmth to the role. Brian Meegan plays the stern Sir James Murray, editor in the scriptorium, with excellence. His softening of character as he gets to know Esme is believable. Ksenja Logos wears many hats throughout the show, and does this brilliantly (Ditte, Mabel, Megan and Alice), however, it is her character work as Mabel O’Shaughnessy, vendor and carver in the Covered Market, that is a real highlight. Arkia Ashraf as Gareth and Mr Crane gives a solid performance, though more softening of his stiff character in the war letter scene would have elevated the emotional level of his performance. Angela Nica Sullen gives a stand out performance across the roles of Tilda Taylor, Sarah and Arthur Maling, as to does James Smith as Bill Taylor and Frederick Sweatman.
Director Jessica Arthur has approached this production with a great deal of care and respect for the text. There is so much detail in this production that only ever aids the text. There are so many moments that give great impact, especially the use of poppy seeds to black out the screen during the war letter sequence between Ashraf and Quan.
All production elements for The Dictionary of Lost Words work hand in hand. Set, lighting, sound design and costuming are brilliant. However it is Max Lyandvert’s exquisite score that truly elevates this production. At times it is reminiscent in musical tone to Hans Zimmer’s score in the Sherlock Holmes films. Lyandvert has this brilliant way of capturing characters’ emotions in his score.
It’s not every day that a brilliant production like The Dictionary of Lost Words has a return season. Last time it was staged, it became State Theatre Company South Australia’s highest selling Dunstan Playhouse production in the company’s history. This is a must see production for any theatre or book lover. If you missed out in 2023, or want to see it again, get in quick.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: April 3 – 17, 2025
Duration: 2 hours and 45 mins (including interval)
Tickets: $39 (students/under 30s) – $109 (A Reserve)
Bookings: https://statetheatrecompany.com.au/shows/the-dictionary-of-lost-words/
Adelaide April 3 to April 17 – Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Brisbane April 26 to May 10 – Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Canberra May 15 to May 24 – Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre
Wollongong May 29 to June 7 – Merrigong Theatre Company
Recommended for ages 16+. Contains strong language, mature themes, theatrical smoke and haze, and theatrical blood.
Photo credit: Prudence Upton
