MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO (WEST END) - BSL PERFORMANCE REVIEW *****

Yesterday, in 30-degree heat, I attended the BSL-signed performance of My Neighbour Totoro at the beautifully air-conditioned Gillian Lynne Theatre. Stepping out of the warmth and into the magical world of Studio Ghibli’s Totoro was exactly what I needed on my Sunday afternoon.

My Neighbour Totoro is a 1998 Studio Ghibli Japanese animated movie following characters Satsuki and Mei as they move to a new home away from Tokyo with their father, as their mother is sick in hospital. After the move, the young girls begin to meet ‘Spirits of the Forest’ — one in particular, a very large spirit named ‘Totoro’. Joe Hisaishi worked with Studio Ghibli and the Royal Shakespeare Company to adapt this beloved tale for the stage, premiering at the Barbican Theatre in 2022. The programme speaks of people who couldn’t wait to see Totoro on stage and people who didn’t really know what to expect.I fell into the latter category, having only seen short clips of the 1998 movie and hearing of the character, but not having seen the film in full!

I was excited, after hearing hype surrounding this stage production, to finally see it following the announcement of its closure in January 2027. Not knowing what to expect only added to the magic of the show. My Neighbour Totoro is a family show in the West End that welcomes children and grown-ups alike to experience the wonder and whimsy of Studio Ghibli, and I certainly did just that. There are moments throughout where the whole audience were laughing, moments for the children, and even ones just for adults to find funny. This is when you know a family show has hit the right spot with its humour! It allows you to really suspend belief, which I often say theatre is all about. In my personal belief, this was a great choice for a stage adaptation, and it works really well in front of an audience in the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

As previously mentioned, I attended a BSL-signed performance of the show. I do not personally struggle with hearing; however, this aspect of the show was very clever in a way I had never seen BSL done before. For My Neighbour Totoro, the BSL interpreter is integrated with the cast, interacting and performing throughout the show. It was special too that Richard P. Peralta, who played Tatsuo yesterday and is second cover for the role, is a deaf actor and signed all of his dialogue personally — I can only imagine what a delightful moment this was for Peralta.

Rachel Clare Chan played Satsuki in this performance. I loved her characterisation of this character, who is both youthful and mature. Satsuki is at the centre of the plot, and you watch her grow up very quickly through the events of the play.

In the role of Mei, Satsuki’s younger sister, was Victoria Chen. Chen stole the show as Mei, a four-year-old girl, and played the part really well. Every moment she was on stage your eyes were drawn to the larger-than-life character in front of you. She captured the wonder of a young girl meeting magical spirits for the first time perfectly.

Puppetry is the star with My Neighbour Totoro, as it brings not only Totoro to life, but also the Catbus, soot sprites and other magical creatures. I always enjoy a show with puppetry, but when these gigantic versions of Totoro and the Catbus are animated in front of your eyes, there is a sense of disbelief but also amazement, thanks to the talented puppeteers and designer Basil Twist.

These puppets needed a wonderful world to live in, and Tom Pye’s set design provides all of that and more, extending even to just beyond the proscenium where the band sit in front of the stage in a treehouse-like framing, keeping the immersion of the piece right through the production.

Mentioning the band, the show is accompanied by some lovely songs and underscoring, from iconic music sections you’d recognise from the film to some brand new compositions by Joe Hisaishi, who also composed the music for the 1998 film.

Overall, if you’re looking for a spectacle good for the whole family, head to My Neighbour Totoro — I can guarantee that you will at least be amazed by the incredible puppetry when Totoro arrives on stage, if you aren’t already entranced by the pure child-like wonder of the piece as a whole. My Neighbour Totoro is playing in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until the 10th January 2027, so book your tickets and enter this magical world before it’s gone! You can get your tickets here!

Monday 25th May 2026

Robbie Davies | Robbie’s Backstage Bants