My Neighbour Totoro: Book Tickets Now

The RSC's six-Olivier-winning Studio Ghibli adaptation, with puppetry by Basil Twist and Joe Hisaishi's score played live at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

My Neighbour Totoro

Highlights

Immerse yourself in a magical tale featuring fantastical creatures and endless adventures.

Enjoy an acclaimed theatrical interpretation celebrated with multiple Olivier Awards.

Marvel at the stunning stage designs and expertly crafted puppets by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

Good to Know About My Neighbour Totoro

Running time is about 2 hours 30 minutes: That includes one 20-minute interval.

Recommended for ages 6 and over: Children under 4, including babes in arms, are not admitted to the theatre.

Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over: The adult has to be seated with the child and stay with them throughout the visit.

Everyone needs their own ticket: That applies to every person entering the theatre, whatever their age.

The show carries several content warnings: The official notice lists live music, some loud noises, pyrotechnics, smoke, haze, strobe lighting or flashing images, and some very large puppets.

Some scenes are set in a hospital: The story involves a sick parent, which is worth knowing before you bring a young child.

Relaxed, captioned, BSL and audio-described performances run on set dates: They are scheduled separately from the regular run.

About My Neighbour Totoro

Two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, move to a house in the 1950s Japanese countryside with their father, closer to the hospital where their mother is ill. Exploring the woods around it, they find soot sprites, a flying Catbus and a large, sleepy forest spirit called Totoro. Tom Morton-Smith adapted Hayao Miyazaki's 1988 Studio Ghibli film; Phelim McDermott directs.

An RSC production, with Joe Hisaishi both scoring it and executive producing, and a live band playing the score every night.

Interesting Facts About My Neighbour Totoro

Six Olivier Awards in 2023, more than any other show that year: Best Director, Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, and set, costume, lighting and sound design.

The stage version runs nearly an hour longer than the original film, with expanded dialogue and character development written by playwright Tom Morton-Smith.

Miyazaki gave permission on one condition: that Joe Hisaishi took responsibility for it.

Satsuki and Mei are played by adult actors, to get a physicality closer to the animation than children could manage.

Basil Twist designed the puppetry and Jim Henson's Creature Shop built the puppets in Los Angeles.

The puppeteers are wind spirits, or Kazego, dressed in dark blue, based on the kurogo of bunraku puppet theatre.

Designer Tom Pye avoided synthetic materials, finishing the house in shou sugi ban, the Japanese technique of charring wood.

The RSC's first Studio Ghibli adaptation, joining Les Misérables and Matilda The Musical among its commercial transfers.

My Neighbour Totoro - Highlights in Pictures

A scene from My Neighbour Totoro on stage

Performers and puppets in My Neighbour Totoro

Gillian Lynne Theatre

166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW, on the corner of Parker Street

The main entrance is on Parker Street; step-free access is via Parker Mews

Two seating levels, the Stalls and the Dress Circle, both above street level

Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House are a few minutes away

Covent Garden's pubs and pre-theatre restaurants are all within walking distance

Getting There

By Tube
By Bus
By Car

By Tube

Holborn (Piccadilly and Central lines) and Covent Garden (Piccadilly) are both about five minutes away. Neither is step-free; the nearest step-free station is Tottenham Court Road, roughly 800 metres off.
From Holborn, walk south down Kingsway and turn right into Parker Street. From Covent Garden, head east along Long Acre and turn left into Drury Lane; the theatre is on the corner about 100 metres up.

Gillian Lynne Theatre - Facilities and Accessibility

A scene from My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

The Gillian Lynne has two seating levels, the Stalls and the Dress Circle, and the auditorium sits well above the street: from the box office it is 72 steps up to the Stalls, or an escalator plus 32, and 114 up to the Dress Circle. Lifts cover most of that climb.

Three bars, all step-free via the lifts, and one merchandise stand for programmes and Studio Ghibli souvenirs. The stand is not step-free, so front-of-house staff will help.
The main entrance is on Parker Street, but step-free access is through Parker Mews, then by lift. Wheelchair spaces are in the Stalls: a Row P platform for two non-transferable chairs with companion seats, plus a transferable seat at S20, for chairs up to 73cm by 123cm.
Two accessible toilets, at bar foyer level and by the wheelchair platform entrance. The Dress Circle is not recommended for limited mobility: even by lift it leaves 24 steps.
The auditorium has an infrared audio system, with headsets and hearing-aid neck loops available from front of house on arrival.

FAQs about My Neighbour Totoro at Gillian Lynne Theatre

What is the story?

Satsuki and Mei are sent to live near their mother's hospital, in a rattling old house at the edge of a wood. What they find in it depends on how much of what children see you are prepared to believe.

How long is the show?

About 2 hours 30 minutes, including one 20-minute interval.

What age is the show recommended for?

Recommended for ages 6 and over. Children under 4, including babes in arms, are not admitted to the theatre.

Does a young child need their own ticket?

Yes. Everyone entering the theatre needs a valid ticket, whatever their age, and children under 4 are not admitted at all.

Do teenagers need an adult with them?

Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over, who has to be seated with them and stay with them throughout the visit.

What special effects does the show use?

The official notice lists live music, some loud noises, pyrotechnics, smoke, haze, and strobe lighting or flashing images.

Is there anything sensitive in the story?

Some scenes are set in a hospital with a sick parent. The official guidance flags it, and it is worth knowing before bringing a young child.

Are there assisted performances?

Yes. Relaxed, captioned, BSL-interpreted and audio-described performances are scheduled on specific dates rather than across the whole run.

Is the Gillian Lynne Theatre step-free?

Step-free access is through Parker Mews rather than the main Parker Street doors, then by lift up to the Stalls. The Dress Circle is not recommended for limited mobility: 24 steps even by lift.

Where is the wheelchair seating?

In the Stalls: a Row P platform for two non-transferable chairs with companion seats, plus a transferable seat at S20. Two accessible toilets, one at bar foyer level and one by the platform entrance.

Which Tube stations are closest?

Holborn, on the Piccadilly and Central lines, and Covent Garden on the Piccadilly line, both about five minutes away. Neither is step-free; Tottenham Court Road is the nearest that is.

Where can I park?

There is a car park directly beneath the building, entered from Parker Mews. Q-Park Chinatown on Newport Place is about eight minutes away and discounted if you book online first; the theatre does not validate parking.