Upcoming London Spirited Away Extends Run

The upcoming London transfer of Spirited Away has extended its run by five weeks. Performances begin April 30, 2024, and will now continue through August 24 (the production was previously set to complete July 20).

John Caird (Les Misérables) brought the Studio Ghibli animated film from Hayao Miyazaki to the stage with a Japanese premiere last year. The production, co-adapted by Caird and Maoko Imai, toured Japan and streamed live on Hulu Japan. Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi, who shared the role of Chihiro in the Japanese run, will reprise their performances in London, where the production will be performed in Japanese with English captions.

The show features Joe Hisaishi's film score arranged by Brad Haak, scenic design by Jon Bausor, puppet design by Toby Olié, choreography by Shigehiro Ide, costumes by Sachiko Nakahara, lighting by Jiro Katsushiba, sound design by Koichi Yamamoto, hair and make-up design by Hiroaki Miyauchi, and projection design by Satoshi Kuriyama. Takashi Hojo will be stage manager.

READ: How Spirited Away the Play Uses Puppets to Bring Hayao Miyazaki’s Classic Film to Life

Spirited Away follows 10-year-old Chihiro, who moves to a new home with her parents. After they get lost in a mysterious world and her parents are turned into pigs, the young girl must survive in the strange land and return to the human world.

TOHO Co Ltd is producing the London run along with PW Productions Ltd, with Haruka Ogi serving as producer and Iain Gillie as co-producer.

Spirited Away will be the second Studio Ghibli film to get a West End stage adaptation. My Neighbor Totoro, adapted from another Miyazaki-directed film, played London's Barbican via Royal Shakespeare Company last year.

Visit SpiritedAwayUK.com.

See photos from the Japanese premiere: