Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Spirited Away has been called one of the greatest films of all time, and now UK audiences can see it brought to life on stage at the London Coliseum. This stage adaptation written and directed by John Caird, originally premiered in Tokyo and the Japanese cast now follow the show to its London premiere.
The story follows Chihiro, a young girl who stumbles upon a mysterious world inhabited by spirits and supernatural beings and is left alone when her parents eat food intended for the gods and are subsequently turned into pigs.
As Chihiro takes a job in a bathhouse with an exclusive clientele, she discovers many enchanting characters. From Haku to the soot sprites, the production captures Miyazaki’s film with remarkable authenticity.
Running at very close to three hours Spirited Away succeeds in recreating much of the original film scene by scene, and that’s achieved by marvellous set design from Jon Bausor. The rotating bath house opening up to reveal different areas of this enchanting realm. There’s a blend of Japanese aesthetics with Satoshi Kuriyama’s stunning projection design.
Perhaps most captivating is the music, composed by Joe Hisaishi, which played by a live orchestra really helps pull the audience into this world. The various gods and magical creatures are beautifully portrayed in puppet form with puppetry design and direction from Toby Olie. Spirited Away is performed entirely in Japanese, with English surtitles clearly visible throughout the performance, audiences not fluent in Japanese may find themselves missing some of the dialogue as their eyes are drawn to the astoundingly colourful display unfolding in front of them.
The cast rotate, with different actors portraying the lead roles each night, however at this performance Mone Kamishiraishi delighted as Chihiro while Hiroki Miura was a captivating Haku. Hikaru Yamano plays the role of No-Face full time, and does so with remarkable physical dexterity.
Chihiro’s journey of self-discovery and personal growth is beautifully portrayed, and the themes so important in the animated version; courage, resilience, and kindness are woven throughout the performance.
In its desire to remain so faithful to the film, Spirited Away does suffer from pacing issues, especially in the second act, but its gorgeous storytelling and awe-inspiring visuals more than make up for it.
