The Dictionary of Lost Words

After captivating audiences in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, the Australian stage adaptation of The Dictionary of Lost Words is headed for Queensland. Taking over QPAC’s Playhouse from April 26 to May 10, Brisbane audiences will soon have the opportunity to see author Pip Williams’ best-selling tale come to life on stage, offering a new way to experience the story that has enchanted readers across the globe.

The Dictionary of Lost Words follows the journey of Esme Nicoll, a young girl growing up in the late 1800s. Raised by her father, a lexicographer working on the very first Oxford English Dictionary, Esme spends her early years in the Scriptorium, hiding beneath the sorting table while her father and his male colleagues decide which words should stay, and which should go. She begins to collect the discarded words to create her own collection – The Dictionary of Lost Words. 

As Esme grows from a young girl into a woman she continues to build her dictionary, learning along the way that many of the neglected words reflect the experiences of women and working-class people – and that words often considered to be less valuable can be the most meaningful. Her quest to preserve these ‘lost words’ forms the heart of the story, set against the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement and the beginning of the First World War.

Adapted by acclaimed Australian playwright Verity Laughton in 2023, the production has received five-star reviews across the country. The Dictionary of Lost Words’ Queensland debut is part of QPAC’s 40th anniversary celebrations, marking a significant milestone in the performing arts centre’s commitment to bringing groundbreaking productions to Brisbane. Tickets are now on sale with the season expected to sell out fast, following the production’s widespread success across Australia.