New team member Iacovos Simeou goes down a happy memory lane…
Once upon a time in a land that didn’t have smart phones, AI or social media you could go to your local library and rent a VHS tape and DVD’s. My mother would do this regularly and it was how I came to discover the world of Studio Ghibli, more specifically the world of My Neighbour Totoro (Gillian Lynne Theatre). It’s a movie that brought me so much joy as a child as it does now in my thirties, so when the announcement was made that they would be making it into a stage production by none other than the Royal Shakespeare Company it certainly pricked my ears up.
Since its debut at the Barbican in 2022 it has received critical acclaim and no less than six Olivier Awards and rightly so. Walking into the Gillian Lynne theatre I was sceptical purely from the basis that I love the movie so much, and could an adaption work in the same way that we’ve seen before with such success bringing Hollywood to the West End.
In its own unique way, yes it can and then some. This isn’t a traditional adaptation; it actually follows the same flow and pattern of the film whilst feeling authentically different at the same time. There are no big song and dance numbers every ten minutes, but what is there is a beautiful accompaniment based on Joe Hisaichi’s compositions, arranged by Will Stuart and sung eloquently by Ai Ninomiya.
The puppetry was elaborate and genius, every bit of credit should go to Basil Twist for bringing Totoroand his friends to life. I told my wife I want a full-sized cat bus for Christmas this year. The casting choices should be applauded too. It takes a lot to run, cycle, climb and fly for 2.5 hours and they understood the assignment. Victoria Chen as Mei; Satsuki’s energetic younger sister was a revelation. Japanese animation and Studio Ghibli is known for its over the top facial expressions, and Victoria Chen pulled this off effortlessly.
Hiyao Miyazaki’s direction when watching the animation is a genuine feast for the senses. What director Phelim McDermott and Adapter Tom Morton-Smith have managed to achieve; while recreating Miyazaki’s magic realism for the stage with the care it rightfully deserves, is make My Neighbour Totoro into a dreamscape. Because sometimes, all we really need is some imagination, a massive cat bus and a mythical forest spirit to take us up into the clouds, and to help us back down again.
Fantastic, innovative storytelling, and a show that serves as a reminder to us all that however wonderful and clever technology may be it’s the story that matters most. One for the young, the old and everyone in between. Totoro Banzai!
My Neighbour Totoro – www.totoroshow.com
Iacovos Simeou
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan