The Royal Shakespeare Company has revealed the final West End extension for My Neighbour Totoro, the stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved film. The production will close at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 10 January 2027 after a successful run.

My Neighbour Totoro, adapted by Tom Morton-Smith from Miyazaki’s 1988 animated feature, first made waves at the Barbican, breaking box office records ahead of its October 2022 opening. Following a sold-out return season in 2023, the production transferred to the West End after its Barbican closure in March 2024.

Presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable, and with Joe Hisaishi as executive producer, the show has been praised for its “sumptuous Studio Ghibli staging.” It is currently playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, with all performances booked through to 10 January 2027, marking the final extension of the London run.

The cast includes Victoria Chen as Mei, Helen Chong as Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi as Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny, and Ai Ninomiya as Kaze No Koe/Singer. The production’s Kazego Puppetry Ensemble returns to bring Totoro and other creatures to life, employing Basil Twist’s award-winning puppetry design and direction.

The creative team is completed by Tom Pye on production design, Kimie Nakano on costumes, Jessica Hung Han Yun handling lighting, You-Ri Yamanaka as movement director, and Tony Gayle on sound design. Joe Hisaishi’s acclaimed score has been newly orchestrated by Will Stuart and is performed live throughout the show.

This production demonstrates the RSC’s ongoing commitment to blending traditional theatrical craft with innovative puppetry and design. The final West End extension reaffirms the enduring appeal of Miyazaki’s work and its theatrical reinvention.