RSC announce cast for MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO returning to the Barbican this Autumn
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
Full casting has been announced for the multi-award-winning stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro, which returns to the Barbican Theatre for a strictly limited run from 21 November 2023 to 23 March 2024.
Mei Mac reprises her Olivier and WhatsonStage Award-nominated performance as Mei Kusakabe, with Ami Okumura Jones returning as older sister Satsuki, Dai Tabuchi in his role as Tatsuo, and Jacqueline Tate as Granny.
Also returning as Kazego Puppetry ensemble are Boaz Chad, Jasmine Chiu, Andrew Futaishi as Hiroshi, Matthew Leonhart, Arina Ii as Miss Hara, Yojiro Ichikawa, Si Rawlinson, Mark Takeshi Ota and Shaofan Wilson.
Joining them are Jessie Baek, Jasmine Bayes, Ka Long Kelvin Chan as Kanta, Elizabeth Chu, Anna Kato, Heather Lai, Amanda Maud as Nurse Emiko, Yuki Nitta, Bright Ong, Emily Piggford as Yasuko, Daniel Phung, Gun Suen, and Naomi Yang as Tsukiko).
The production is directed by Improbable’s Phelim McDermott, with production design by Tom Pye, costumes by Kimie Nakano, lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun, movement by You-Ri Yamanaka, and puppetry design and direction by Basil Twist, created with puppetry associate Mervyn Millar’s Significant Object and the Jim Henson Creature Shop.
The show features music from Joe Hisaishi’s iconic score in a new orchestration by Will Stuart, performed by live musicians including singer Ai Ninomiya, with sound by Tony Gayle, video design by Finn Ross and Andrea Scott, and casting by Hannah Miller CDG.
This enchanting coming-of-age story explores the magical fantasy world of childhood and the transformative power of imagination, as it follows one extraordinary summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei.
In order to be closer to their mother while she recovers from an illness in a rural convalescent hospital, their father moves the family to the countryside. As the girls explore their beautiful new surroundings, Mei encounters magical creatures and the ancient protector of the forest she calls Totoro.
Although Satsuki doesn’t believe her little sister at first, they are soon both swept up in exciting adventures with their new neighbours – transported to a long-forgotten realm of spirits, sprites, and natural wonder.
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