My Neighbour Totoro
Brought to the stage by Joe Hisaishi and Royal Shakespeare Company in collaboration with Improbable and Nippon TV
The ‘awe-inspiring’ (Time Out), ‘dazzling’ (Guardian) production of My Neighbour Totoro is transferring to the West End from 8 March 2025.
Winner of five Whats On Stage Awards and Six Olivier Awards including Best Director for Phelim McDermott, the celebrated 1988 animated feature film by Hayao Miyazaki was brought to the stage by its original composer Joe Hisaishi and adapted by Tom Morton-Smith. With production design by Tom Pye, costume design by Kimie Nakano, and lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, this ground-breaking production featured puppetry created by Basil Twist and music from Joe Hisaishi’s iconic score in a new orchestration by Will Stuart, performed live with sound design by Tony Gayle. Directed by Phelim McDermott.
This enchanting coming-of-age story explored 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.
#FindYourSpirit
Synopsis:
Satsuki and Mei’s mother has taken ill. In order to be closer to her while she recovers in a rural convalescent hospital, their father moves the two sisters from their home in a city to the countryside.
The house they move into is a ramshackle old place in the shadow of an ancient camphor tree. It is infested with little, sooty creatures that live in the eaves of the attic and underneath the floorboards. Granny Ogaki – one of their neighbours – tells the girls that these are ‘soot sprites’, who dwell in empty and forgotten spaces. They are quite harmless and will move on now the house is inhabited again.
Granny’s grandson, Kanta, is intrigued by his new neighbours – particularly Satsuki, with whom he’ll be sharing a classroom – but he doesn’t know how to talk to city girls.
With father working and mother recuperating, Satsuki takes on more responsibility for herself and her sister. And though the countryside is beautiful and the people friendly, it’s hard not to be scared when the wind rustles the trees at night.
As the sisters explore their new surroundings, young Mei encounters magical creatures and the ancient protector of the forest she calls "Totoro" – and they are to be the girls’ neighbours.
The initially sceptical Satsuki refuses to believe her, but before long the two girls are caught up in the creatures’ adventures – transported to a long-forgotten world of spirits, sprites and magic.
Originating Creative Team:
Music: Joe Hisaishi
Adapter: Tom Morton-Smith
Director: Phelim McDermott
Production Designer: Tom Pye
Puppetry: Basil Twist
Costume Designer: Kimie Nakano
Lighting Designer: Jessica Hung Han Yun
Orchestrator and Arranger: Will Stuart
Sound Designer: Tony Gayle
Movement: You-Ri Yamanaka
Video: Finn Ross
Video: Andrea Scott
Casting Director: Hannah Miller
Dramaturg: Pippa Hill
Music Supervisor: Bruce O'Neil
Associate Director: Ailin Conant
Associate Production Designer: Tim McQuillen-Wright
Puppetry Associate: Mervyn Millar
Associate Set Designer: Isobel Nicolson
Associate Lighting Designer and Programmer: Tamykha Patterson
Music Associate / Creative Sound Designer: Nicola T Chang
Associate Sound Designer: Steven Atkinson
Cast to be announced
Upcoming Performances
Sat 8 March - Sunday 2 November 2025
Gillian Lynne Theatre
Press and reviews:
“A dazzling staging of the Studio Ghibli classic”
★★★★★ The Guardian
“A tender and remarkably beautiful show”
★★★★★ Financial Times
“A huge, healing hug of a show… utterly beguiling”
★★★★★ The Stage
Awards:
WINNER OF 6 OLIVIER AWARDS
Best Set Design – Tom Pye
Best Costume Design – Kimie Nakano
Best Director – Phelim McDermott
Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
Best Lighting Design – Jessica Hung Han Yun
Best Sound Design - Tony Gayle
WINNER OF 5 WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS
Best Direction – Phelim McDermott
Best Musical Direction/Supervision – Bruce O'Neil and Matt Smith
Best Lighting Design – Jessica Hung Han Yun
Best Set Design – Tom Pye and Basil Twist
Best Sound Design – Tony Gayle
CRITICS' CIRCLE THEATRE AWARDS
Best Designer – Tom Pye
