Lost Without Words, National Theatre

Lost Without Words started with a chance encounter. Phelim McDermott, co-founder and artistic director of Improbable Theatre Company, happened to meet a well-known stage actor who had not been seen in the spotlight for a while. The reason, McDermott discovered, was that the actor was worried in his old age he would be unable to remember his lines.

From this meeting, an idea was born: what would happen if we filled a stage with distinguished performers, all in their late 70s or 80s, and took away the script? Lost Without Words comes the National's Dorfman Theatre courtesy of Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson, co leaders of the boundary-breaking Improbable theatre company.

The fully improvised play invites a generation of distinguished thespians, who made careers out of bringing life to a playwright's words, to come on stage and make it up as they go along. Who knows what stories, scenarios and revelations will ensue...

The cast is made up of 'people who have been treading the boards for their whole careers... well-loved and well-respected actors rather than marquee names'. Seasoned thespians including Georgine Anderson, Charles Kay, Caroline Blakiston and Lynn Farleigh return to the stage to star.

Now much of the emphasis on theatre programme is around encouraging broader, younger audiences -- and rightly so. But in our ageing population issues surrounding marginalisation and memory loss are increasingly potent, and we are curious to see how these older actors interact with the conversation.

Certainly the only sure thing about Lost Without Words is that the spontaneity of the form will create a wholly different experience each night.


Ticket availability is now limited so book now to avoid disappointment.