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Friday, October 24, 2025
My Neighbour Totoro Extends in London's West End
Playbill: My Neighbour Totoro has extended in London's West End through August 30, 2026. The show, which is currently running at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, was originally scheduled to run through March 2026. See new photos from the production below.
8 comments:
Arden
said...
This production looks so adorable!! The film my neighbor totoro has such a distinct and unique style that I think this production captures really well. It is often difficult to turn an animated film into something that accurately shows the style of that animation in real life. The way that they used the scale of the puppets is quite impressive. They are quite frankly enormous, and take up so much room, I'd be so curious to see how they work, and how they manage them when they are not on stage. I think puppetry is really cool, and how shows utilize it to tell stories is quite fascinating to me. Because this show has so many puppets the puppetry ensemble is huge, which I find very cool. It's cool that the show got extended and reading about it has reminded me that I want to learn more about puppetry and the process of making puppets.
The photos from this production are absolutely fabulous! I knew that this had been in the works for a while, and I am so happy to see that it is having commercial success. Tackling a fantastical world like this is a big ask, especially for a theater production, but it looks amazing. For the large creatures, it shows that they are playing with the lighting through the materials that they use for these large puppets that they make. The work of these artists that have come together to recreate this iconic movie in a theater space. What I am most excited about with the continuation of this production in the West End, is the idea that this is coming into popularity, and that there will be more of a demand for the creation of these large creatures, and the art of puppeteering these creatures for the stage. As a young artist hoping to still have a place in the industry, this really has me excited.
This production is absolutely beautiful. I remember reading about this show a while ago (probably through the newspage) but I totally forgot about it until reading this article. I think the puppets in this show look really cool, and I’m super interested in learning more about how the puppets work. Something that especially stands out to me is what looks like an inflatable puppet. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an inflatable puppet before, and I’m really curious about what is going on in the background in order to make that puppet operational. Is it airtight, or is there a constant air supply somehow? Allowing it to have a constant air supply would definitely be easier to maintain, but where is that air supply and how is the noise level controlled? The main thing that I think would be difficult to get right is the level of inflation, since the puppet would need to be partially deflated to move well, but too deflated would look, well, deflated.
I had no idea that My Neighbor Totoro has a theater production based on it! It’s amazing to hear since I’ve always loved anime, and Studio Ghibli is responsible for most classics in that genre. I’m still yet to watch a lot of them, including My Neighbor Totoro, due to me just keeping super busy for the past few years, but I find the concept interesting as a whole of anime turned theater production. Totoro is one of the “ultimate” classics, and I’m super curious about how the whole show was handled. Seeing the giant Totoro set up as a sort of piece of scenery in that one image was incredible. I almost wish I could be on it because it looks really comfortable and cool. Not only that, but I do wonder how or if they change the story at all from the anime for the production, and what adjustments need to be made to go from anime to theater production. I’m sure there are plenty of steps, considering how different the two media are.
I had absolutely no idea there was a production of a Studio Ghibli movie and the movies were basically my childhood. This show looks absolutely adorable and I need to see it. I think the use of puppets in this show is interesting and normally they feel a little out of place to me but I feel like they make sense for this show. I also think the concept of inflatable puppets very interesting because what if something were to happen on stage and the puppet pops? How easy are they to mend? How many do they have? And are they loud when they move and loud to blow up? I’m curious to know how these puppets work clearly but overall I would just love to watch a production of this movie especially because it is a childhood favorite for me and also for most of my friends too.
Personally this is my first time hearing or seeing anything about a My Neighbor Totoro live theatrical adaptation. I absolutely love the movie it was the second Studio Ghibli film that I have seen, and this movie was an emotional rollercoaster with amazingly animated experience to watch. Before watching the movie I didn't really have many expectations, but the movie and story surpassed my expectations. The movie was funny, heartwarming, sad, and though provoking. Now this article has me wondering how these emotional feelings that the movie instills in its audience with be created in a live theatrical production versus an animated movie. Due to the fact that one of the biggest appeals of Studio Ghibli films are the animation styles, and how that looks on screen. Based on the images shown in this article I would say that that the production is doing a great job of creating a magical and animation inspired feel to the stage, and the characters have a real close likeness to their animated counterparts. Based on the fact that the show is getting an extended run it seems that the show is well received by audiences, and I hope that this may lead to other Studio Ghibli films getting theatrical adaptations.
Typically I’m critical of productions that are just remakes of movies, but this use of scale in the puppetry is quite amazing to me. I love a production that forces performers to look either really big or really small, and their representation of totoro and the catbus really puts these girls into perspective in an amazing way. I love Totoro, it’s definitely a childhood staple for me. The massive puppets not only make the actresses look so much smaller, but they help a lot in immersing the audience in the production. To have to look up at the creatures onstage gives their presence a lot of power in telling the story. Along with the puppets, the stage design here seems absolutely beautiful. The layers of trees make this world feel massive, from the photos I’ve seen the only thing that seems to really bring the girls' scale back down is their families house. Overall, I’m very impressed by the work that’s gone into the puppets for Totoro, this is a show I would love to see.
The puppets in My Neighbor Totoro’s new play are so cool! We were discussing scale on the stage recently in class, and this play does it perfectly. At first, when I saw the puppets, I assumed they were person size. Then, when the images from the article showed actors next to and on top of the puppets, it became clear how absolutely huge they were. Basil Twist, as the puppet designer, had a vision and it was brought to life so clearly. I love the texture on Totoro’s puppet, because it has a clear soft furry texture, but also looks animated because of the size of each piece. Then there is the catbus. I think it is so interesting to use an inflatable as a puppet, and something I had never thought of. I also think the size is really well emphasized compared to the many performers operating each puppet.
8 comments:
This production looks so adorable!! The film my neighbor totoro has such a distinct and unique style that I think this production captures really well. It is often difficult to turn an animated film into something that accurately shows the style of that animation in real life. The way that they used the scale of the puppets is quite impressive. They are quite frankly enormous, and take up so much room, I'd be so curious to see how they work, and how they manage them when they are not on stage. I think puppetry is really cool, and how shows utilize it to tell stories is quite fascinating to me. Because this show has so many puppets the puppetry ensemble is huge, which I find very cool. It's cool that the show got extended and reading about it has reminded me that I want to learn more about puppetry and the process of making puppets.
The photos from this production are absolutely fabulous! I knew that this had been in the works for a while, and I am so happy to see that it is having commercial success. Tackling a fantastical world like this is a big ask, especially for a theater production, but it looks amazing. For the large creatures, it shows that they are playing with the lighting through the materials that they use for these large puppets that they make. The work of these artists that have come together to recreate this iconic movie in a theater space. What I am most excited about with the continuation of this production in the West End, is the idea that this is coming into popularity, and that there will be more of a demand for the creation of these large creatures, and the art of puppeteering these creatures for the stage. As a young artist hoping to still have a place in the industry, this really has me excited.
This production is absolutely beautiful. I remember reading about this show a while ago (probably through the newspage) but I totally forgot about it until reading this article. I think the puppets in this show look really cool, and I’m super interested in learning more about how the puppets work. Something that especially stands out to me is what looks like an inflatable puppet. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an inflatable puppet before, and I’m really curious about what is going on in the background in order to make that puppet operational. Is it airtight, or is there a constant air supply somehow? Allowing it to have a constant air supply would definitely be easier to maintain, but where is that air supply and how is the noise level controlled? The main thing that I think would be difficult to get right is the level of inflation, since the puppet would need to be partially deflated to move well, but too deflated would look, well, deflated.
I had no idea that My Neighbor Totoro has a theater production based on it! It’s amazing to hear since I’ve always loved anime, and Studio Ghibli is responsible for most classics in that genre. I’m still yet to watch a lot of them, including My Neighbor Totoro, due to me just keeping super busy for the past few years, but I find the concept interesting as a whole of anime turned theater production. Totoro is one of the “ultimate” classics, and I’m super curious about how the whole show was handled. Seeing the giant Totoro set up as a sort of piece of scenery in that one image was incredible. I almost wish I could be on it because it looks really comfortable and cool. Not only that, but I do wonder how or if they change the story at all from the anime for the production, and what adjustments need to be made to go from anime to theater production. I’m sure there are plenty of steps, considering how different the two media are.
I had absolutely no idea there was a production of a Studio Ghibli movie and the movies were basically my childhood. This show looks absolutely adorable and I need to see it. I think the use of puppets in this show is interesting and normally they feel a little out of place to me but I feel like they make sense for this show. I also think the concept of inflatable puppets very interesting because what if something were to happen on stage and the puppet pops? How easy are they to mend? How many do they have? And are they loud when they move and loud to blow up? I’m curious to know how these puppets work clearly but overall I would just love to watch a production of this movie especially because it is a childhood favorite for me and also for most of my friends too.
Personally this is my first time hearing or seeing anything about a My Neighbor Totoro live theatrical adaptation. I absolutely love the movie it was the second Studio Ghibli film that I have seen, and this movie was an emotional rollercoaster with amazingly animated experience to watch. Before watching the movie I didn't really have many expectations, but the movie and story surpassed my expectations. The movie was funny, heartwarming, sad, and though provoking. Now this article has me wondering how these emotional feelings that the movie instills in its audience with be created in a live theatrical production versus an animated movie. Due to the fact that one of the biggest appeals of Studio Ghibli films are the animation styles, and how that looks on screen. Based on the images shown in this article I would say that that the production is doing a great job of creating a magical and animation inspired feel to the stage, and the characters have a real close likeness to their animated counterparts. Based on the fact that the show is getting an extended run it seems that the show is well received by audiences, and I hope that this may lead to other Studio Ghibli films getting theatrical adaptations.
Typically I’m critical of productions that are just remakes of movies, but this use of scale in the puppetry is quite amazing to me. I love a production that forces performers to look either really big or really small, and their representation of totoro and the catbus really puts these girls into perspective in an amazing way. I love Totoro, it’s definitely a childhood staple for me. The massive puppets not only make the actresses look so much smaller, but they help a lot in immersing the audience in the production. To have to look up at the creatures onstage gives their presence a lot of power in telling the story. Along with the puppets, the stage design here seems absolutely beautiful. The layers of trees make this world feel massive, from the photos I’ve seen the only thing that seems to really bring the girls' scale back down is their families house. Overall, I’m very impressed by the work that’s gone into the puppets for Totoro, this is a show I would love to see.
The puppets in My Neighbor Totoro’s new play are so cool! We were discussing scale on the stage recently in class, and this play does it perfectly. At first, when I saw the puppets, I assumed they were person size. Then, when the images from the article showed actors next to and on top of the puppets, it became clear how absolutely huge they were. Basil Twist, as the puppet designer, had a vision and it was brought to life so clearly. I love the texture on Totoro’s puppet, because it has a clear soft furry texture, but also looks animated because of the size of each piece. Then there is the catbus. I think it is so interesting to use an inflatable as a puppet, and something I had never thought of. I also think the size is really well emphasized compared to the many performers operating each puppet.
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