Last Updated on August 12, 2025
Studio Ghibli classic makes for a dazzling theatre production!
Without a single quiver of hesitation, I can announce myself a devoted Hayao Miyazaki fan. When your parents are bohemian enough to imbue your childhood with the artsier side of children’s television you are fed on a regular diet of Studio Ghibli masterpieces. Needless to say, My Neighbour Totoro has an undeniably special place in my heart, meaning that my expectations were incredibly high and I had already prepared myself for a bit of a let-down… I could not have been more wrong.
For those who haven’t seen the original (although you should certainly watch it if you haven’t), My Neighbour Totoro is an animated film from 1988 about sisters Mai and Satsuki Kusakabe. With their mother in the hospital and their father commuting to Tokyo, the girls explore the old forests surrounding their home and find magical forest spirits, including a ginormous fluffy creature named Totoro. The production is an RSC adaptation written by Tom Morton-Smith, although so little actually changed in the script (even the cadences of some of the classic lines were the same), that it’s near identical to the original.
Like the cult-classic original, this brand-new show is full of charm, whimsical characters and beautiful music from Joe Hisaishi’s soundtrack. This is all made possible by a beautiful set designed by Tom Pye, that has the musicians perched on tree tops, and a clever array of trapdoors and spinning sets, surrounded by cut-out trees. It’s about as close to an animation backdrop as you can get on stage, and it’s pulled off phenomenally well.
All performances were sensational, especially those from Mei Mac as Mai and Ami Okumura Jones as Satsuki. They both got the childish physicality spot on, and certainly embodied both of the character’s energies from the film. Dai Tabuchi does a great job as both the voice of Totoro and the father, Tatsuo Kusakabe. The entire cast does a phenomenal job working with the puppeteers and making all the interactions look entirely natural.
Whenever the names of Phelim McDermott or Improbable Theatre are attached to a production, you know the puppetry is going to knock your socks off (Satyagraha – regularly revived at the ENO – is a favourite example). But this time they’ve outdone themselves. Totoro is the perfect pillow, the soot-sprites on sticks were a stroke of genius and the inflatable cat bus is damn near gobsmacking. Every puppet is infused with remarkable attention to detail that defines this production of My Neighbour Totoro.
Neither the magic nor the energy falters, even down to the final bow, where all the puppeteers finally get their turn in the spotlight. In an age of cynicism and political insanity, this is certainly perfect escapism. It won’t matter whether you leave the kids at home or bring them along, it’ll be an evening well spent in wonder.
My Neighbour Totoro at The Barbican
Barbican Arts Centre,
Silk Street,
London
EC2Y 8DS
Barbican Box Office: 020 7638 8891 or visit totoroshow.com
Tickets from £25 – £85 with a limited number of Premium Seats available from £85
Day seats available at £25
Performances: Saturday 8 October 2022 – Saturday 21 January 2023
Looking for something different? We also recommend Life of Pi currently showing at Wyndham’s
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