My Neighbour Totoro

Find your spirit and witness theatre magic with the landmark adaptation of the Studio Ghibli classic. Discover a new world and book My Neighbour Totoro tickets on TodayTix today.

There are limitless storytelling opportunities in My Neighbour Totoro, as Tom Morton-Smith’s adaptation faithfully recreates the original film, all lifted by Joe Hisaishi’s sweeping score. Plus, there’s all the fantastic puppetry, a collaboration between Basil Twist, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, and Mervyn Millar.

Every element in My Neighbour Totoro blends to create something unique. London Theatre raved about the world premiere, hailing the RSC, Improbable, and Nippon TV’s production as “a massive hit… a perfect balance of honouring Hayao Miyazaki’s creation and seeking a new theatrical language… It’s a reminder to take time to savour our surroundings, and to find joy even in the toughest times. Theatre at its most magical.”

My Neighbour Totoro triumphed at the Olivier Awards, winning six Olivier Awards, including Best Entertainment or Comedy, Best Director (for Phelim McDermott,) and Best Set, Costume, Lighting, and Sound categories.

The My Neighbour Totoro play follows two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who relocate to the countryside to be by their mother’s bedside. As they discover their new surroundings, they suddenly meet a new community led by an ancient forest protector. At first, Satsuki is skeptical of her little sister, but they’ll eventually explore a new world together. Can they be transported into a realm of spirits, sprites, and natural wonder?

Access Performances

Audio Described: Saturday 16 December 2.00pm & Wednesday 28 February 7.00pm
Touch Tour: Saturday 16 December 12.00-12.30pm & Wednesday 28 February 5.00-5.30pm
BSL Integrated: Friday 9 February 7.00pm
Captioned: Saturday 16 December 2.00pm, Saturday 6 January 2.00pm, Thursday 25 January 2.00pm & Wednesday 28 February 7.00pm
Relaxed with Integrated BSL Interpreter (Audio Described & Captioned): Thursday 1 February 2.00pm Relaxed (Audio Described & Captioned): Saturday 17 February 2.00pm

While watching My Neighbour Totoro in London, you may notice resemblances to Alice in Wonderland. There are similarities between Totoro and the Lewis Carroll story: the young women find themselves meeting mystical characters, and they both fall down holes into a new world. And the Catbus is reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat.

My Neighbour Totoro also influenced future Pixar films; the conversations around death in Coco also came from the Studio Ghibli film. The Totoro character even features in Toy Story 3. While it looks like we won’t ever get a sequel to My Neighbour Totoro, we can enjoy these playful extensions of the Ghibli universe.

My Neighbour Totoro is a landmark Studio Ghibli stage adaptation. After years in development, the play premiered at the Barbican in 2022, breaking box office records before the show opened. Now, the play returns for a second year in London — a surefire sign it’s soon to take over the world.

What to Watch For:

• Did you know that the name Totoro translates to ‘troll’ in Japanese?
• The sisters' names, Satsuki and Mei, were explicitly chosen to represent their characters. “Satsuki” is a traditional word for May, the fifth month of the year. But “Satsuki” can also translate to happiness. “Mei” can translate to bright and reliable.
• Jim Henson’s Creature Shop created puppets for Sesame Street and The Muppets, as well as bespoke effects for Stuart Little, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Flintstones.
• My Neighbour Totoro creators Basil Twist, Tom Pye, and Phelim McDermott previously worked together on Aida at the London Coliseum.