My Neighbour Totoro stage adaptation to return to London this autumn
The stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro will return to London this autumn!
The production will run once more at the Barbican from 21 November 2023 – 23 March 2024. Priority booking opens on 11 April and public booking opens on 21 April 2023.
From the Royal Shakespeare Company, the show had its world premiere production last autumn.
Adapted from the celebrated 1988 animated feature film by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away), My Neighbour Totoro is brought to the stage by its original composer Joe Hisaishi in a landmark new adaptation by the RSC (Matilda The Musical) written by playwright Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) in collaboration with Improbable and Nippon TV.
Casting for the new London run is to be announced.
This enchanting coming-of-age story explores the magical fantasy world of childhood and the transformative power of imagination, as it follows one extraordinary summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei.
In order to be closer to their mother while she recovers from an illness in a rural convalescent hospital, their father moves the family to the countryside. As the girls explore their beautiful new surroundings, Mei encounters magical creatures and the ancient protector of the forest she calls Totoro.
Although Satsuki doesn’t believe her little sister at first, they are soon both swept up in exciting adventures with their new neighbours – transported to a long-forgotten realm of spirits, sprites, and natural wonder.
Directed by Improbable’s Phelim McDermott with production design by Tom Pye, costume design by Kimie Nakano, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and movement by You-Ri Yamanaka. Puppetry design and direction is by Basil Twist, created with puppetry associate Mervyn Millar’s Significant Object and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
The production features music from Joe Hisaishi’s iconic score in a new orchestration by Will Stuart, performed live with sound design by Tony Gayle. Video design is by Finn Ross and Andrea Scott. Associate Director is Ailin Conant.
