The multi-award winning stage adaptation, which played at the Barbican Centre in 2022 and 2023, will transfer to the West End from next month.
The cast of My Neighbour Totoro in rehearsals. Photo by Manuel Harlan
Here's our first look in the rehearsal room for My Neighbour Totoro.
Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) from Hayao Miyazaki’s celebrated 1988 animated feature film, the production is directed by Improbable Co-Founder, Phelim McDermott. The production opened in 2022 where it broke the Barbican's Box Office record for most tickets sold in a single day. My Neighbour Totoro went on to win six Olivier Awards and five WhatsOnStage Awards.
Victoria Chen has joined the company to play the role of Mei. Returning to their roles are Ami Okumura Jones as Mei’s older sister Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny, and Ai Ninomiya as the Singer.
My Neighbour Totoro features production design by Tom Pye, puppetry design and direction by Basil Twist, costume design by Kimie Nakano, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and movement by You-Ri Yamanaka. 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, the Dramaturg is Pippa Hill, Casting Director is Hannah Miller CDG and Sound Effects & Soundscape Designer is Nicola T Chang.
Join Satsuki and Mei at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 08 March as they are transported to a long-forgotten realm of spirits, sprites, and natural wonder. It really is a production not to be missed!
