The hit West End production is currently booking at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until the 30th August.
New casting has been confirmed for the London run of My Neighbour Totoro, which will mark one year in the West End next month.
It has been announced that Helen Chong will join the company, making her West End principal debut as Satsuki. She joins Victoria Chen as Mei, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny and Ai Ninomiya as the Singer, all of whom are continuing in their roles.
Meanwhile, joining the company are Karen Barredo, Melisa Camba, Jeffrey Chekai, Chui Yen, Eero Chen Liu, Natsumi Kuroda, Yui Minari, Michelle Miners, Gun Suen, Si Rawlinson, Sango Tajima and Bai Zhijin. The ensemble continues to include Rachel Clare Chan, Phyllis Ho, Victor Itang, Gabriel S. Janoras, Kumiko Mendl, Steven Nguyen, Richard P Peralta and Jamie Zubairi, with swings Ronnie Lee, Wenhsin Lee, Amber Lin and Sera Maehara.
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.
Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1998 animated film, it has been adapted for the stage by Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) and is directed by Improbable Co-Founder, Phelim
McDermo.
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.
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