The critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning My Neighbour Totoro extends its run in the West End until 29 March 2026. To celebrate, over 20,000 tickets have been released for £25 or under, and new production images have been unveiled.
Ahead of opening night tomorrow, Executive Producer Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable, announced the extension of the stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro. The production will now run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until 29 March 2026.
Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, RSC Co-Artistic Directors, said: “We are delighted to be extending the run of My Neighbour Totoro following the excitement and response from audiences to the show’s opening in the West End. We want as many people as possible to enjoy this brilliant story of kindness, courage and the power of the imagination, and we are offering more than 20,000 tickets at £25 or under to celebrate the extended run. We can’t wait to welcome more audiences to see the show in its new home at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.”
Kenichi Yoda, producer from Nippon TV and board member of Studio Ghibli, along with Executive Producer Griselda Yorke, said: “It’s a privilege to be embarking on this next chapter in the life of My Neighbour Totoro under the careful leadership of Joe Hisaishi. We could not ask for a better home in the West End than the Gillian Lynne Theatre. When you refind the spirit of your childhood, you too will see Totoro – we look forward to seeing you at the theatre.”
Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith from Hayao Miyazaki’s celebrated 1988 animated feature film, the production is directed by Improbable Co-Founder, Phelim McDermott. Winner of six Olivier Awards and five WhatsOnStage Awards, My Neighbour Totoro broke the Barbican’s Box Office record for most tickets sold in a single day in April 2022, ahead of its global premiere in October 2022.
The cast includes Victoria Chen as Mei, Ami Okumura Jones as Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny, and Ai Ninomiya as the Singer.
The Kazego Puppetry Ensemble features Rachel Clare Chan, Sally Cheng, Sabrina Pui Yee Chin, Victor Itang, Gabriel S Janoras, Anna Kato, Heather Lai, Ronnie Lee, Matthew Leonhart, Kumiko Mendl, Annakanako Mohri, Lucy Park, Richard Peralta, Chloe Ragrag, and Shaofan Wilson.
Completing the company are Phyllis Ho, Steven Nguyen, Jamie Zubairi, Deanna Myers, Boaz Chad, Wenshin Lee, Amber Lin, Sera Meahara, and Nathaniel Tan.
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 includes 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.
Artwork for the stage adaptation includes a hand-drawn title by Toshio Suzuki, Producer for Studio Ghibli, who was involved in the planning and production of the original animated film.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
