The Lost Library of Leake Street
- Jack Stevens
- Nov 29, 2025
- 2 min read
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
It’s Christmas Eve, and Isla is lost. Wandering through the vaults and tunnels of Waterloo, she is searching for something – a gift for her mother, after a tumultuous year past. But nothing seems to be quite right. Until, that is, she finds the shop. Or, to be more precise, the library. Or, to be more precise still, the Lost Library of Leake Street. But this isn’t like any library you’ve seen before. Sure, it’s full of stories – as most libraries are. But here, the stories aren’t found in pages or on tape. The stories come from things. Lost things, discarded things. Things that were once treasured by a Londoner, now lying forgotten. Or almost forgotten.
Oli Savage’s direction is pretty strong, especially in the way the story flows through the intimate space. However, once the show slips into reenactment territory, things occasionally get a bit fuzzy. You do eventually catch on—but a touch more clarity in those transitions would have been nice.
The set is wonderful. You walk in and instantly feel transported into this cosy, cluttered, knick-knack-meets-library world. Warm white tones, softly glowing fairy lights, and a lived-in atmosphere make it feel like the kind of place where stories really could breathe. It nails the Christmas vibe even when the plot isn’t necessarily jingling its bells.
The lighting sticks mostly to a single colour palette, which works well for atmosphere, but there were definitely opportunities to push things further—especially in the reenactments and during some of the show’s more emotional turning points. A little extra variety could’ve added more impact.
Sound-wise was good! Not earth-shattering, but effective. And the Christmas music that greets you as you arrive is a lovely touch—like a warm seasonal welcome before the storytelling begins.
Oli Savage’s book is heartfelt and thoughtful, exploring grief, loss, and the objects we cling to when people slip away. It’s a beautiful concept. I did find myself wishing for a bit more festive cheer, given the Christmas setting, yes. But the opening section is strong but lingers longer than it needs to—tightening it would keep the momentum as magical as the premise.
The Lost Library of Leake Street feels like stepping into a warm hug someone stitched together out of fairy lights, nostalgia, and a slightly chaotic collection of Londoners’ lost treasures. It’s a tender story of grief and healing, wrapped in Christmas ambience—though, admittedly, more “set at Christmas” than “festive feast.” A rich, immersive, emotionally warm piece of theatre with a few areas that could be sharpened—but still absolutely worth the journey.
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