The cast and creative team of My Neighbour Totoro. Picture: Manuel Harlan
The full company has been unveiled for the world premiere of the stage version of Studio Ghibili’s multi-award-winning Japanese animated film fantasy My Neighbour Totoro this autumn.
Presented by executive producer Joe Hisaishi and the RSC, the enchanting coming-of-age story is due to debut at London’s Barbican from 8 October 2022 until 21 January 2023.
The company will be made up of Haruka Abe (Yasuko/puppeteer), Li-Leng Au (puppeteer), Boaz Chad (puppeteer), Nino Furuhata (Kanta/puppeteer), Andrew Futaishi (puppeteer), Zachary Hing (puppeteer), Susan Momoko Hingley (Miss Hara/puppeteer), Yojiro Ichikawa (puppeteer), Arina Ii puppeteer), Haruka Kuroda (Nurse Emiko/puppeteer), Marian Lee (puppeteer), Matthew Leonhart (puppeteer), Mei Mac (Mei), Aki Nakagawa (puppeteer), Kanako Nakano (Tsukiko/puppeteer), Ami Okumura Jones (Satsuki), Michael Phong Le (Hiroshi/puppeteer), Tobi Poster-Su (Puppeteer), Si Rawlinson (puppeteer), Dai Tabuchi (Tatsuo/puppeteer), Jacqueline Tate (Granny/puppeteer) and Shaofan Wilson (puppeteer).
Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 film is being brought to the stage by its original composer Hisaishi in a landmark adaptation by the RSC written by Tom Morton-Smith and directed by Phelim McDermott.
Commenting on the project, Hisaishi said: “In Japan, many people are passionate about theatre and musicals, but there are no original Japanese shows or musicals performed in the world. Totoro is a Japanese work famous throughout the world, and so this stage adaptation could have the potential to reach global audiences. That’s what I thought, and I told Mr Miyazaki ‘I want to see such a show’ and he said ‘yes, only if you are going to do it’.
“This responsibility is a huge task, but we chose to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, a globally prestigious company, and with their support we can make it happen. I am delighted that the RSC have become our partner because I feel much in common between the quality of the RSC and Mr Miyazaki’s aesthetic. This is a ground-breaking project. Phelim McDermott is a wonderful director, and his team are enthusiastic, creative and very hardworking. They love Totoro and the sense of anticipation is high.
“I was involved with the original animation film, and so I feel strongly about not harming the film. If the story is universal – as I believe it is – it will have a global reach even if it is performed by people from different cultural backgrounds speaking different languages. I was sure of this – and so we have chosen to open outside Japan. To me this was important. It’s vital to keep distance with the film but it’s also important to have new encounters. That’s why I put my trust in this project. I believe it will be a great show.”
Design for the production is by Tom Pye, with costumes by Kimie Nakano, lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun and movement by You-Ri Yamanaka. The production will feature puppetry created by Basil Twist and music from Hisaishi’s original score in a new orchestration by Will Stuart, performed live with sound design by Tony Gayle. The associate director is Ailin Conant. Artwork for the stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro 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.
The production is supported by Spanish Luxury House LOEWE, the headline sponsor of My Neighbour Totoro. The company’s connection with Studio Ghibli began in 2021 with the creation of a capsule collection inspired by the original animated film.
Widely regarded as one of the best animated movies of all-time, My Neighbour Totoro tells the story of a professor’s two young daughters and their enchanting encounters with wood spirits in post-war Japan.
Angela Thomas
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