Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro has announced a new cast for the stage adaptation playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre to mark its one year anniversary in the West End this March.
Marking her West End debut in a principal role, Helen Chong joins the company to play the role of Satsuki. Continuing their roles in the cast is Victoria Chen as Satsuki’s younger sister Mei, Dai Tabuchi as their father Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny and Ai Ninomiya as the Singer.
Joining the show’s unique Kazego Puppetry Ensemble is Karen Barredo, Melisa Camba, Jeffrey Chekai, Chui Yen, Eero Chen Liu (Principal puppeteer), Natsumi Kuroda (Tsukiko), Yui Minari, Michelle Miners, Gun Suen (Principal puppeteer), Si Rawlinson (Movement Captain), Sango Tajima (Miss Hara/Principal puppeteer) and Bai Zhijin.
Continuing in their roles are Rachel Clare Chan, Phyllis Ho, Victor Itang, Gabriel S Janoras, Kumiko Mendl (Nurse Emiko), Steven Nguyen (Kanta), Richard P Peralta and Jamie Zubairi. The swings include 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.
Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) from Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 animated feature film, the production is directed by Phelim McDermott. My Neighbour Totoro made its global premiere in October 2022 at the Barbican Centre. The production returned to the Barbican Centre for a strictly limited run in Autumn 2023. The production closed at the Barbican Centre in March 2024, and opened at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in March 2025.
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 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 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.
The show comes from executive producer Joe Hisaishi, the original composer of the feature film and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable.
Tickets here.
Top image: My Neighbour Totoro, (c) Matt Crockett (image supplied)