The stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s film will open at the London Coliseum in April 2024.
TOHO Co Ltd presents, co-produced with PW Productions Ltd have announced that the European premiere of Spirited Away will open at the London Coliseum in April 2024.
The production will arrive in London following a sell-out tour of Japan in 2022 and will see the original Japanese cast including Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi, who play Chihiro performing in this European debut. It was also confirmed that Spirited Away will be presented in the original Japanese, with English captions.
Based on the film created by legendary animator and director Hayao Miyazak, Spirited Away has been re-imagined for the stage by Toho Theatrical Department and Olivier and Tony Award-winning director John Caird (Les Misérables). The story will also be also brought to life by a live orchestra playing the film score by Joe Hisaishi arranged by Brad Haak (Mary Poppins), set design by Jon Bausor (Bat Out of Hell),puppets designed by Toby Olié (Pinocchio: National Theatre), choreography by Shigehiro Ide (NODA MAP Series), and costumes by Sachiko Nakahara.
Spirited Away was released in 2001 and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. It tells the story of Chihiro who while traveling to a new home with her family, stumbles into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. When her parents are turned into pigs and she is put to work in a magical bathhouse, Chihiro must use her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents, and return to the normal world.
Director, John Caird said “I am proud and delighted to present the original Japanese stage production of SPIRITED AWAY at the Coliseum Theatre next year. We had a wonderful time creating the show in 2022 and I’m so happy now to be spiriting away a British audience into Hayao Miyazaki’s magical world. A world of gods and frogs, dragons and sorcerers, giant-sized babies and bouncing heads, spider-armed boilermen, no-faced loners and a young girl’s valiant quest for courage, identity and love.”
To sign up for priority tickets visit: https://www.spiritedawayuk.com/