My Neighbour Totoro tickets
About My Neighbour Totoro
See Studio Ghibli’s hit 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro come to life on stage in the Olivier Award-winning play of the same name. Book My Neighbour Totoro tickets on TodayTix.
This coming-of-age tale set in the 1950s Tokyo countryside tells the story of young sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who have moved to the country with their father after their mother is hospitalized. Throughout the show, their experiences range from mundane to fantastical as they meet numerous forest spirits, including the furry Totoro.
My Neighbour Totoro in London was an immediate hit. Over 290,000 people saw the show, and it broke the Barbican Centre box office record for ticket sales in a single day. Additionally, the show earned an impressive six Olivier awards in 2023. The awards include Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design.
Know before you go
Acorn Performances: The sooner you book, the better your seat. Available on select Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Run time
2hr 30min. Incl. 1 interval.
Categories
Plays, Sci Fi / Fantasy, West End, Film / TV, Award winners, Adventure, Family / Kid-friendly
Age
Ages 6+. Children under the age of 4 (including babes in arms) will not be admitted. Children need to occupy their own seat. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. All guests, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket.
Start date
8th March, 2025
End date
10th January, 2027
“Pure theatrical magic that awakens your inner child”
A Magical Masterpiece of Puppetry and Wonder
Audiences are overwhelmingly enchanted by this stage adaptation of the beloved Studio Ghibli film, with the breathtaking puppetry and set design earning universal praise as the production's crowning a...
What It Feels Like
- Magical
- Heartwarming
- Nostalgic
You’ll Love This If…
- You adore whimsical storytelling and Studio Ghibli
- You appreciate extraordinary puppetry and stagecraft
- You want a joyful family-friendly experience
Really beautiful story with amazing puppetry. Lives up to the movie
Set was amazing and well directed
Magical live experience, especially if you bring children with you
Venue
Directions
Location: West End
Railway station: King's Cross St Pancras
Bus numbers: (High Holborn) 134, 242; (Kingsway) 1, 59, 68, 91, 168, 171, 188, 243, 521, X68
Night bus numbers: (High Holborn) 242, N68, N207; (Kingsway) 188, 243, N1, N91, N171
Car park: Drury Lane, Parker Street (1min)
Directions from tube: (5mins) Go right on Long Acre; turn left at Drury Lane and you’ll see the theatre 100 metres away on a corner.
More information about My Neighbour Totoro
The star-studded creative team includes set design by Tom Pye, costume design by Kimie Nakano, direction by Phelim McDermott, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and sound design by Tony Gayle. All of whom won Olivier Awards for their work on My Neighbour Totoro during its run at the Barbican.
My Neighbour Totoro is a play that is set apart by its stunning puppetry headed by puppetmaster Basil Twist. For the show, a new style of puppetry, called “wind spirits,” was created, which focuses on having human puppeteers rather than machines. The puppeteers have their own costumes, which are visible throughout the production.
“It’s a little bit like in the movie, if you suddenly got to see the animators who were making that cartoon happen,” McDermott told The Standard.
What to watch for
- Studio Ghibli has had numerous hit films in addition to My Neighbor Totoro, this includes Oscar-winning Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away.
- The story by Hayao Miyazaki is, in part, biographical, as his mother suffered from tuberculosis when he was a child and spent much of her time in the hospital. This is similar to the film and now the play in which the girls’ mother is hospitalized.
- In addition to dialogue, My Neighbour Totoro relies on musical and visual storytelling to create a captivating tale for audiences.
- The performance incorporates aspects of Shinto and Japanese folklore as it transports audiences into the imaginative mind of a child.
Frequently asked questions
What is My Neighbour Totoro about?
Don't miss the theatrical event of 2025, the record-breaking, award-winning My Neighbour Totoro is now playing in London's West End.
How do you get tickets for My Neighbour Totoro?
Check the top of this page for current availability on My Neighbour Totoro tickets on TodayTix.
Which theatre is My Neighbour Totoro at?
My Neighbour Totoro is at London's Gillian Lynne Theatre, which is located at 166 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW.
What is the age recommendation for My Neighbour Totoro?
Ages 6+. Children under the age of 4 (including babes in arms) will not be admitted. Children need to occupy their own seat. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. All guests, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket.
What is the running time of My Neighbour Totoro?
My Neighbour Totoro runs for 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 interval.
How much are tickets for My Neighbour Totoro?
My Neighbour Totoro tickets start at £18.
Who wrote My Neighbour Totoro?
Hayao Miyazaki wrote the original story, which was adapted for the stage by Tom Morton-Smith.
Who directed My Neighbour Totoro?
Phelim McDermott stages the play.
Is My Neighbour Totoro appropriate for kids?
My Neighbour Totoro is a great family-friendly show; it is best for children ages 6 and up.
Is My Neighbour Totoro good?
My Neighbour Totoro is a magnificent show that has broken box office records and earned numerous awards. The show’s run at the Barbican had many critics praising the production, including a five-star review from The Guardian that said, “It is not nearly as high-powered in its special effects as a Disney adaptation but just as dazzling in its magic realism…The future remains uncertain, but Satsuki and Mei carry on believing in all things magical and unseen, and the lessons for life are kindness, hope, and community.”
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