My Neighbour Totoro

Why watch My Neighbour Totoro

• “Wow is too small a word!” (Broadway World). The “jaw-dropping” (Metro) multi-award-winning My Neighbour Totoro has found its new home in the West End and is now booking until August 2026.

• Find your spirit with this "profoundly magical experience" (Elle) and winner of six Olivier awards, as the five-star, widely acclaimed adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s animated feature film appears on stage at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

• With “blockbuster awe-inspiring puppets” (Time Out) from Puppetry Director & Designer Basil Twist and Puppetry Associate Mervyn Millar (War Horse), My Neighbour Totoro is brought to you by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Executive Producer Joe Hisaishi, in collaboration with Improbable and Nippon TV, and adapted by Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) with direction from Phelim McDermott.

• Discover this "huge, healing hug of a show" (The Stage) and book your My Neighbour Totoro London tickets now!

The story

Join sisters Satsuki and Mei as they move to their curious new home in the countryside. Exploring their unfamiliar surroundings, they soon encounter a world of spirits, spritesand magical creatures. Maybe it was all a dream? Or perhaps they really are now friends with the giant, ancient protector of the forest named 'Totoro' and his friend the 'Catbus'.

My Neighbour Totoro: Look into the first performance images >

Know before you go

Show details

Genre: Play

Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Audience: Suitable for 6+

Theatre Name: Gillian Lynne Theatre

Theatre Facilities: Bar, cloakroom, restrooms, food and beverage allowance, gift shops, water fountain.

Dress Code: Smart casual

Cast and creatives

• Leading roles: Victoria Chen as Mei, Ami Okumura Jones as Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny Ōgaki, Ai Ninomiya as Singer (Kaze no Koe)

• Director: Phelim McDermott

• Adaptor / English Lyrics: Tom Morton-Smith

• Composer & Executive Producer: Joe Hisaishi

• Production Designer: Tom Pye

• Costume Designer: Kimie Nakano

• Puppetry Designer: Basil Twist

Additional info

• Suggested age for this show is 6+, but younger guests are welcome. The show will be quite long, quite loud in parts, and possibly scary for some younger children at times. Children need to occupy their own seats at all times throughout the performance. This production is not suitable for children under 4 years of age (including babes in arms).

• Keep in mind, the theater is air-conditioned throughout the year and can get a bit chilly. Bring along a light jacket if needed.