The stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro is making its world premiere at West End's Barbican Theatre, and reviews are rolling in. Presented with executive producer Joe Hisaishi, the Royal Shakespeare Company production began performances for its 15-week engagement October 8 for a run through January 21, 2023.
Based on the Japanese animated fantasy movie by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, the coming-of-age adventure story follows sisters Satsuki and Mei, played by Ami Okumura Jones and Mei Mac, who move to the countryside with their father to be closer to their ill mother. Mei explores the new area, meeting magical creature and the ancient protector Totoro in the work's fantasy world setting.
Read the reviews here.
Evening Standard (Nick Curtis)*
London Theatre (Marianka Swain)
New York Post (Johnny Oleksinski)
The Telegraph (Dominic Cavendish)*
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Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The company includes Haruka Abe as Yasuko, Nino Furuhata as Kanta, Susan Momoko Hingley as Miss Hara, Haruka Kuroda as Nurse Emiko, Kanako Nakano as Tsukiko, Michael Phong Le as Hiroshi, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, and Jacqueline Tate as Granny, who all additionally serve as puppeteers. Completing the cast of puppeteers are Li-Leng Au, Boaz Chad, Andrew Futaishi, Zachary Hing, Yojiro Ichikawa, Arina Ii, Marian Lee, Matthew Leonhart, Aki Nakagawa, Tobi Poster-Su, Si Rawlinson, and Shaofan Wilson.
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Tom Morton-Smith pens the adaptation, which features music from Hisaishi, who serves as composer in addition to executive producer. Phelim McDermott directs the production which features production design by Tom Pye, costumes by Kimie Nakano, lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun, movement by You-Ri Yamanaka, puppetry by Basil Twist, music by Hisaishi, orchestration by Will Stuart, and sound design by Tony Gayle.
For tickets and more information, visit Barbican.org.uk.
