Escape to Japan for a Few Hours in the West End: 'My Neighbour Totoro' Reviewed
- Patricia Herbolario
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
A night at the theatre is always magical, but a show that rekindles your spirit with wonder is another story and that's what My Neighbour Totoro in the West End does. While faithfully based on the original Studio Ghibli film, the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) delivers a wonderful and magical show that stands on its own.
The stage show is a respectable spectacle to the cult classic and a beautiful homage to Japanese culture and imagery.
What worked for me:
While the actors did a beautiful job, the creative team definitely deserves their flowers for this one. Be prepared to say "wow" with the rest of the audience more than once. The creativity displayed will guarantee you goosebumps, especially with the artistry of the puppetry. I knew this was a puppet-heavy but I never realised that puppets can go beyond silly strings and wonky dolls. Expect to see all your favourite characters on stage doing the magical things they did in the film. Yes, trees will shake. Yes, there is a bit of flying. Yes, seeing Totoro in the fur is magical.
Also, just because I know the fact that it's Japanese material might intimidate some audiences, the whole show is now in English (both singing and dialogue), whereas I believe it was "subtitled" in its previous runs through a dialogue strip on the top of the stage. They even intentionally put the "u" in the moniker's "Neighbour" as a cheeky British wink.
What didn't work for me:
Prior viewing of the film is not required to see the stage show but I will say that this is a no-story show. I realised that a lot of us probably like the film due to nostalgia (sorry!). You can feel like the show overstays its welcome midway through the second act. And while the score is undeniably beautiful, the main theme is repeated a little too much. I feel like Pavlov's dog now, every time I hear the overture, I get flashbacks to the theatre... which I still haven't decided is a good or bad thing.
Who I recommend this show to:
I do believe that anyone will enjoy this show, but families in particular will love this. Parents, this show is made for you!!! Your children will absolutely love it, and so will you. You'll leave the theatre feeling lighter and filled with child-like wonder.
The Final Word:
With seats starting at £25, you can never go wrong! You'll definitely leave the theatre amazed and feeling like you've just been in Japan for the past two hours! Despite the lack of a proper story (which is more of a material issue), the creative team puts together a beautiful piece of theatre at the Gillian Lynne every night! Plus, all seats at the Gillian Lynne offer a great view so you are missing out if you haven't booked yet.
My Neighbour Totoro: 4/5 for me!
My Neighbor Totoro is running at The Gillian Lynne Theatre until August 30. 2026 from Tuesdays to Sundays with matinee shows on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2:00 PM and evening shows at 7:00 PM. Book your tickets on their website today!
Recording the Curtain Call is strictly prohibited (as it does contain spoilers) so I gathered what I can! I also got some images from the show's website, taken by the amazing Manuel Harlan.
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