REVIEW: West End's 'My Neighbor Totoro' is pure magic
Following two critically acclaimed seasons at London’s Barbican Centre from 2022-2024, My Neighbor Totoro makes its West End bow by way of the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Olivier award-winning playwright Tom Morton-Smith deftly adapts Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic 1988 animation with wit and whimsy, while expanding on key characters and scenes. Performed in English, the musical introduces all-new songs (performed in Japanese!) that blend seamlessly with original composer Joe Hisaishi’s classic score and theme tune.
Story-wise, the broad strokes remain the same, with sisters Mei (Victoria Chen) and Satsuki (Aki Okumura Jones) moving to the Japanese countryside with their father after their mother has taken ill. Settling into their new home, the sisters have magical encounters that hint at the events to come. When four-year-old Mei comes face to face with a massive forest spirit, she immediately befriends it, naming the creature, “Totoro.” Soon enough, the sisters and their new companion find themselves embarking on a series of adventures beyond their wildest imaginations.
Giant forest spirit notwithstanding, the narrative draws inspiration from Miyazaki’s own experiences growing up, playing out in an idyllic Japanese countryside as the nation itself hurtles relentlessly towards modernity. Juxtaposing the realities of growing up against the childhood notion that magic could lie behind every rock, tree, or creature, Totoro’s tale of family ties and dealing with change remains timeless.
Under director Phelim McDermott (The Hours, Aida), the play conveys a sense of childhood nostalgia, presenting spellbinding sequences while anchoring events firmly in authentic emotions. Credit for that balancing act goes largely to Chen and Jones’ performances; playing four and ten years old, respectively, the actors skirt the line between wide-eyed innocence and cheeky self-awareness to craft appealing characters the audience is happy to root for.
Where fellow Studio Ghibli stage adaptation Spirited Away was a visual marvel whose pacing suffered from adhering too closely to its source material, Totoro’s play builds upon it, expanding canon to create an altogether more fulfilling experience. Visually impressive in its own right, the production boasts a lush production design that expands outward from the stage to draw the audience in. And all that’s before you get to the extraordinary creatures that populate this world, operated and performed here by a full team of puppeteers. In a nod to the show’s Japanese roots, the puppeteers actually greet the audience at the beginning, cheerfully acknowledging the theatricality before proceeding to reinforce the fantasy that follows.
As designed by puppetmaster Basil Twist (and built by London-based Significant Creatures and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop), the creatures are truly wondrous, with Miyazaki’s hand-drawn designs making the transition to three-dimensional reality fully intact. From mischievous soot sprites and unruly chickens to a tree undergoing a growth spurt, there’s no shortage of technical wizardry here. Unsurprisingly, the most notable of these is Totoro himself, a magnificent, towering creation that would charm even the most hardened of critics.
Whether he’s expanding in size to release a bellowing roar, sharing a knowing look, or just napping peacefully, Totoro’s presence as a living, breathing character is enchanting as it is technically impressive. Suffice it to say, by the time he takes flight across the theater’s ceiling with the kids in tow, it’s impossible not to smile.
In an era of cynical reimaginings, awkward deconstructions, and outright bastardizations of classic properties, My Neighbor Totoro is the sort of heartfelt, homespun fairy tale we don’t see a lot of anymore. Rendered with care and affection, Totoro is that rare adaptation that hits all the right notes by honoring its source while delivering an experience that feels altogether new. Whether you’re a longtime Ghibli stan or a newcomer, My Neighbor Totoro has something for everyone to discover and enjoy.
Now that’s real magic.