MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO releases new images and announces West End extension

Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) from the celebrated 1988 animated feature film by Hayao Miyazaki, My Neighbour Totoro is now playing in the West End until August 2026.

The production, directed by Improbable Co-Founder, Phelim McDermott, made its global premiere at the Barbican in 2022, where it broke their Box Office record for most tickets sold in a single day. My Neighbour Totoro returned to the theatre for a second run in Autumn 2023 before recently making its West End debut at the Gillian Lynne Theatre earlier this year.

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 are Phyllis Ho (Yasuko), Steven Nguyen (Kanta), Jamie Zubairi (Hiroshi) and Deanna Myers (Tsukiko), and Swing puppeteers Boaz Chad, Wenshin Lee, Amber Lin, Sera Maehara and Nathaniel Tan.

The production also released new images today, including a fantastic look at Basil Twist's puppetry design:

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.

My Neighbour Totoro offers audiences a magical journey into the wonders of childhood imagination and the beauty of friendship. It is booking at the Gillian Lynne Theatre to 30 August 2026.

My Neighbour Totoro Tickets