Behind the scenes at My Neighbour Totoro – photos released

Exclusive: A look behind the curtain of the acclaimed stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro has been unveiled by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The show is entering its final months in the West End, as performances conclude at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 3 January 2027.

Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith from Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved 1988 animated feature, the production first broke box office records at the Barbican ahead of its opening in October 2022. Following a sold-out return season in 2023, the show transferred to the West End after closing at the Barbican in March 2024. The production is presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable, with executive producer Joe Hisaishi. The stage adaptation is directed by Phelim McDermott and was heralded as a “sumptuous Studio Ghibli staging” in our review of the original Barbican spell.

The current cast includes Victoria Chen as Mei, Helen Chong as Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny and Ai Ninomiya as Kaze No Koe/Singer.

The production’s acclaimed Kazego Puppetry Ensemble also returns, bringing the show’s iconic creatures to life through Basil Twist’s award-winning puppetry design and direction.

The creative team features production design by Tom Pye, costume design by Kimie Nakano, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, movement direction by You-Ri Yamanaka and sound design by Tony Gayle. Joe Hisaishi’s celebrated score has been newly orchestrated by Will Stuart and is performed live during the production.