The Dictionary of Lost Words

This award-winning New York Times bestseller and book club favourite will be brought to vivid life in a new adaptation.

26 Oct - 16 Dec 2023

Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House

The Play

"Illuminating...exceptionally translates the novel to stage" ★★★★ Time Out
★★★★1/2 The AU Review★★★★★ GlamAdelaide ★★★★★ Scenestr

Sydney Season Sold Out

Limited tickets may become available on the day of each performance.

THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS

Adapted by Verity Laughton from the novel by Pip Williams
Directed by Jessica Arthur

Discover the secret power of words

Pip Williams’ award-winning New York Times bestseller and book club favourite, The Dictionary of Lost Words, will be brought to vivid life in a new adaptation for the stage by Verity Laughton and directed by Jessica Arthur (Grand Horizons, Wonnangatta).

It’s 1886 and the very first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is being compiled. Four-year-old Esme Nicoll has a front row seat. Well, she’s hiding under the sorting table, anyway. As her father and his male colleagues decide which words stay and which go, Esme collects the discarded (often gendered) scraps to compile her own far more radical, far more magical dictionary.

A sweeping historical tale in the spirit of The Harp in the South, The Dictionary of Lost Words follows Esme from her childhood in the 1880s, into adulthood at the height of the women’s suffrage movement and the beginning of the First World War.

This novel captured the imagination of hundreds of thousands of readers around the globe, and was recommended by book club trendsetters like Reese Witherspoon. In 2023, Verity Laughton’s adaptation starring Brett Archer, Rachel Burke, Tilda Cobham-Hervey (Amazon Prime's The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), Raj Labade, Ksenja Logos, Angela Mahlatjie (A Raisin in the Sun), Chris Pitman, Anthony Yangoyan, will unfurl this beautiful and transportive reflection on the love between a daughter and her father, at a time when the women’s rights movement was first gaining traction, into a delectable and warm night of theatre.

Approx. duration 3 hrs (including interval). Subject to change.
Content Strong language, adult themes, theatrical smoke and haze, theatrical blood. Subject to change.

VISITOR SAFETY INFORMATION

The safety of our audiences, artists and staff is of paramount importance. For full details on our safety measures please visit our Visitor Safety Information page.

Dates

Previews 26 – 27 Oct 2023
Season 30 Oct – 16 Dec 2023

Night with the Artists
Mon 6 Nov, post-show Q&A

Captioned Performances
Tue 5 Dec, 6.30pm
Sat 9 Dec, 1.30pm

Audio Described Performances
Sat 25 Nov, 1.30pm

Auslan-Interpreted Performances
Thu 7 Dec, 7.30pm

Performance start times
Preview performances 7.30pm
In-season evening performances Mon & Tue 6.30pm; Wed – Sat 7.30pm
Matinee performances Wed 1pm; Sat 1.30pm

Approx. duration 3 hrs (including interval). Subject to change. More info.

Ticket Information

Single tickets
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $114
Seniors card holder $109
Concession $88
Under 30 $67

Fri & Sat performances
All tickets $125

Preview performances
All tickets $70

Groups Discount (10+ people)
Monday – Thursday
A Reserve $104

Please call the Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book groups.

Corporate entertainment packages are also available for this production.

Season Ticket prices
Saturday evening A Reserve $98
Adult A Reserve $93
Seniors cardholder $89
Pensioner/Student $70
Under 30 $51
Preview $51

Season Ticket Additional ticket prices
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $104
Seniors cardholder $99
Pensioner/Student $78
Under 30 $57

Friday & Saturday performances
A Reserve $109

Preview performances
All tickets $57

Mini Package prices
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $98
Seniors cardholder $94
Pensioner/Student $74
Under 30 $54

Friday & Saturday performances
A Reserve $103

Preview performances
All tickets $54

Transaction fees may apply
Season Ticket bookings: no fees
Single ticket bookings: $8.50 online; $8.50 telephone; $0 Box Office counter

Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.

Concession, seniors and under 30 tickets
Suitable and valid identification must be provided for collection of tickets and at the venue, such as your concession or proof of age card. Alternatively, you may email a copy of your identification to [email protected]. Please quote your booking reference number.

Access requirements
For specific access requirements, please call Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book your seats. More info.

Authorised ticket sellers
The only authorised ticket sellers for this event is Sydney Theatre Company. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable. More info.

Director Jessica Arthur
Set Designer Jonathon Oxlade
Costume Designer Ailsa Paterson
Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest
Composer & Sound Designer Max Lyandvert
Assistant Director Shannon Rush
Intimacy & Fight Coordinator Ruth Fallon
Accent Coach Jennifer Innes

With
Brett Archer, Rachel Burke, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Raj Labade, Ksenja Logos, Angela Mahlatjie, Chris Pitman, Anthony Yangoyan

Understudies
Arkia Ashraf, Briallen Clarke, Brenna Harding

Marketing image Lisa White

This listing is updated as cast and creatives are confirmed in the lead-up to the production, and if there are any changes to the team. Ensure you have the most up-to-date information about each play by opting in to our enews.

“An astounding performance… The Dictionary of Lost Words is a poetic experience”

“Jonathon Oxlade’s set design is an artistic masterpiece”

“Do not miss out on the beauty of this show. ★★★★ Time Out

“A meaningful work…The cast of eight is warm and cohesive” Suzy Goes See

“A visually arresting and emotionally fulfilling performance…Recognition needs to be given to Set Designer Jonathon Oxlade and Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest whose combined efforts provide an innovative backdrop to the story.” ★★★★1/2 The AU Review

“This work has clean lines and a captivating storyline filled with humour and historical awareness” Broadway World

“An incredible set design” In Daily

“Costume designer Ailsa Paterson deserves praise for the nuance she brings to each character” The Saturday Paper

“The production design (by Jonathon Oxlade) is a marvel... Under clever and sometimes astonishing lighting (Trent Suidgeest) it can transform in a blink” Limelight

"This is a very clever realisation of Williams' novel for the stage and gives great power to key moments of this epic story." The Conversation

"The piece is a real work of art" ★★★★★ GlamAdelaide

"Spellbinding" ★★★★★ Scenestr

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