Speaking in Tongues by Black Swan State Theatre Company

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 28 August 2025

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Alexandria Steffensen (as Sonja, Sarah) and Catherine Moore (as Jane, Valerie) in Speaking in Tongues
Photo Credit: Daniel L Grant Photography

As we headed into the State Theatre Centre of WA with the light pattering of rain, we were looking forward to watching Speaking in Tongues by Black Swan State Theatre Company.

Having enjoyed watching the movie Lantana a couple of decades ago, I thought it would be interesting to see the original play written by Andrew Bovell performed on stage.

The bed set lands on the stage, silently hoisted down on its 4 steel thin poles, and we were off. It was an attention grabbing start as the 4 main characters spoke in unison – questioning their relationships, infidelities and innermost thoughts with their respective spouses.

Despite being set in the era before mobile phones, Speaking in Tongues remains a contemporary Australian play, and the issues and challenges faced by the two couples are reflective of common relationship problems faced today. The stress of careers on marriages, the yearning for love to return with a relationship gone south, trying to keep the passionate spark of romance and love alive over the years, striking up conversations with strangers at the bar over a glass of wine or pint or two of beer, and seeking a therapist when problems get too much, all still resonate in 2025.

Cleverly, after the intermission break, the second half of the play transitions from exploring the lives of the two starting couples and shifts perspective to other characters mentioned in the first half, weaving their stories together like threads in a tapestry to form a vivid picture. From up close it is hard to make sense of it all, some threads are cut short, some are knotted and frayed, colours clash and complement each other, but it is not until you step back that all these narratives blend together into a complete and disturbing scene.

Kudos to the amazing actors (Matt Edgerton, Luke Hewitt, Catherine Moore and Alexandria Steffensen) who took on multiple roles as the dialogue snapped back and forth at a rapid pace to reveal earth-shattering events in the lives of ordinary people – emotions poured out as love and past trauma resurfaced – bitterness, anger, good times, memories and more.

Speaking in Tongues is an intricate masterpiece written by Bovell and the production by Black Swan State Theatre Company directed by Humphrey Bower rises to its complex demands.

Speaking in Tongues is on at the gorgeous Heath Ledger Theatre of the State Theatre Centre of WA till 14 September.

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