My Neighbour Totoro Play At Barbican Guide
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s My Neighbor (they add a ‘u’) Totoro has returned to the Barbican’s Theatre for a limited run from 21 November 2023 to 23 March 2024, and I was lucky enough to catch it this time around.
Having recently returned from the Ghibli Park, I was really impressed with an innovative, heartfelt and impactful piece of theatre. In addition to some wonderful performances, the puppets and sets are stars in their own right, and of course, the Joe Hisashi songs and score shine as bright as they did decades earlier.
Do I Need To Have Seen The Original 1988 Animated Film?
While having seen the film will let you appreciate the way they’ve adapted it to the stage, everything is explained and easy to follow, so newcomers won’t really be missing out.
Is My Neighbour Totoro Suitable For Children?
The show gives an age guidance of 6+ and says it’s not suitable for children under 4 years of age. I would say it’s definitely engaging for younger children and adults alike.
My Neighbour Totoro Length & Starting Time
The total running time is 2 hours 40 minutes, including the intermission of 20 minutes. The show starts at 7 pm, with the first half being around 90 minutes, then the 20-min break, and then the final part being around 70 minutes.
Where Are The Best Seats?
The mid stalls (rows G – M) are probably the best to experience the show at the fullest, because of how projections and angles and major reveals work. However, this is a minor thing and you’ll have a great experience wherever you are, as the stage size is very wide and expansive.
What’s The Ghibli Merchandise Like?
There are several small green stalls selling My Neighbor Totoro merchandise from the play, while the main Barbican gift shop has a wider selection of Ghibli merchandise, plus anime and manga related gifts, including Ghibli Film Posters, and limited cells from various other anime. Most importantly, you can buy official plush Totoro dolls from most of the stands
