Ahead of opening night tomorrow evening, Executive Producer Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable announce that the multi-award winning stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro will extend in the West End, running until 29 March 2026. To celebrate the extended season over 20,000 tickets have now been released for £25 or under, with brand new production images also released.
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.”
The production’s producer from Nippon TV, Kenichi Yoda, who is also a board member of Studio Ghibli and 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 (Oppenheimer) 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. Following both critical and audience acclaim, the production returned to the Barbican Centre for a strictly limited run in Autumn 2023. The production closed at the Barbican Centre in March 2024.
The cast includes Victoria Chen in the role of Mei, Ami Okumura Jones as Mei’s older sister Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny, and Ai Ninomiya as the Singer.
The show’s unique Kazego Puppetry Ensemble includes Rachel Clare Chan, Sally Cheng, Sabrina Pui Yee Chin, Victor Itang, Gabriel S Janoras, Anna Kato, Heather Lai, Ronnie Lee, Matthew Leonhart, Kumiko Mendl (Nurse Emiko), Annakanako Mohri, Lucy Park, Richard Peralta, Chloe Ragrag and Shaofan Wilson (Miss Hara).
Completing the company is Phyllis Ho (Yasuko), Steven Nguyen (Kanta), Jamie Zubairi (Hiroshi) and Deanna Myers (Tsukiko), and Swing puppeteers 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 features 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 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.
Satsuki and Mei’s mother has taken ill. In order to be closer to her while she recovers in a rural convalescent hospital, their father moves the two sisters from their home in a city to the countryside. And though the countryside is beautiful and the people friendly, it’s hard not to be scared when the wind rustles the trees at night. As the sisters explore their new surroundings, young Mei encounters magical creatures and the ancient protector of the forest she calls “Totoro” – and they are to be the girls’ neighbours.
Although Satsuki doesn’t believe her little sister at first, they are soon both swept up in exciting adventures with their new neighbours – transported to a long-forgotten realm of spirits, sprites, and natural wonder.
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Gillian Lynne Theatre
166 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW
Booking details: totoroshow.com/
020 7087 7750
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Tickets from £25. RSC £10 Tickets for 16-25s supported by Tik Tok available per performance. Details on how to book found at https://www.rsc.org.uk/support/rsc-10-tickets-supported-by-tiktok
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AT THE GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE
Now playing – 29 MARCH 2026
Group bookings on sale until 31 May 2026
Tuesday – Saturday, 7pm performances
Monday, 7pm performances on 24 and 31 March
Thursday and Saturday 2pm performances from 22 March
Sunday 2pm performances from 13 April
ASSISTED PERFORMANCES AT THE GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE
Audio Described Performances:
Sun 18 May, 2pm (Touch Tour, 12 – 12.30pm)
Sat 19 July, 2pm (Touch Tour, 12 – 12.30pm)
Sun 17 Aug, 2pm (Touch Tour, 12 – 12.30pm)
Sat 11 Oct, 2pm (Touch Tour, 12 – 12.30pm)
Captioned Performances:
Sat 17 May, 2pm
Sun 20 July, 2pm
Sat 16 Aug, 2pm
Sun 12 Oct, 2pm
Chilled Performance:
Thurs 03 July, 2pm
Relaxed Performance with Integrated BSL Interpreter:
Sat 27 Sept, 2pm
