Photos: Behind the Scenes of MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO

The Royal Shakespeare Company has released all new behind the scenes photos from My Neighbour Totoro, to mark the production entering the final twelve weeks of its run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Check out the photos below!

Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) from Hayao Miyazaki’s celebrated 1988 animated feature film, the production is directed by Improbable Co-Founder, Phelim McDermott.  The show has run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre since 8 March 2025 and must end on 3 January 2027. Winner of multiple awards and universal critical acclaim, My Neighbour Totoro played two seasons at the Barbican Theatre prior to transferring to the West End and by the end of its run will have been seen by over 1 million people since its first preview at the Barbican on 8 October 2022.

The cast includes Victoria Chen in the role of Mei, Helen Chong as Mei’s older sister Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny, and Ai Ninomiya as Kaze No Koe/Singer.

The show’s unique Kazego Puppetry Ensemble is made up of Karen Barredo, Melisa Camba, Rachel Clare Chan, Jeffrey Chekai, Chui Yen, Phyllis Ho (Yasuko), Victor Itang, Gabriel S. Janoras, Natsumi Kuroda (Tsukiko), Eero Chen Liu (Principal Puppeteer), Kumiko Mendl (Nurse Emiko), Yui Minari, Michelle Miners, Steven Nguyen (Kanta), Richard P. Peralta, Gun Suen (Principal Puppeteer/Puppetry Captain), Sango Tajima (Miss Hara/Principal Puppeteer), Bai Zhijin and Jamie Zubairi (Hiroshi). The swings include Ronnie Lee, Wenhsin Lee, Amber Lin, Sera Maehara and Si Rawlinson (Movement Captain).

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. 

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.
Photo Credit: Danny Kaan