Stage-loving Studio Ghibli fans are being treated like never before at the moment: hot on the heels of the RSC’s hugely acclaimed ‘My Neighbour Totoro’, here comes this spectacular Japanese production of Hayao Miyazaki 2001 masterpiece ‘Spirited Away’.
Adapted for the stage by John Caird – perhaps best known as co-director of ‘Les Miserables’ – with puppets by Toby Olié, there’s so much Brit talent at the heart of the production that a transfer always seemed pretty much bolted on, and it’ll play a limited run at the vast London Coliseum as part of a wider international tour.
If none of the above makes any sense to you, Ghibli is a legendary Japanese animation studio that has produced a string of much-loved, generally fantasy-tinged features over the last several decades. ‘Spirited Away’ is perhaps the quintessential work by Ghibli head honcho Miyazaki, concerning Chihiro, a young girl who inadvertently crosses over into a world filled with strange spirits of varying friendliness.
Presented in Japanese with English surtitles, Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi will reprise their role as Chihiro, and the large cast will be accompanied by a live orchestra playing Joe Hisaishi’s score.
