Satsuki and Mei's Magical Discovery
Set in 1950s rural Japan, the story follows sisters Satsuki and Mei as they move to the countryside with their father while their mother recovers in hospital. Exploring their new home and the surrounding forest, the girls discover magical creatures including dust sprites, a cat bus, and the magnificent forest spirit Totoro.
What to Expect
- The family's move to a mysterious old house in the countryside
- Mei's first encounter with the small forest spirits and baby Totoro
- The discovery of giant Totoro sleeping under a camphor tree
- The magical nighttime scene of growing seeds under the moonlight
- An adventure on the flying Catbus to find their mother
- Themes of childhood wonder, family bonds, and harmony with nature
Bringing Animation to the Stage
- Puppetry Design: Basil Twist's innovative puppetry brings Totoro and the forest spirits to life with remarkable artistry and technical sophistication
- Set Design: Tom Pye's staging evokes the feeling of stepping inside a Studio Ghibli animation with beautiful attention to detail
- Music: Joe Hisaishi's iconic film score adapted for live performance, maintaining the emotional power of the original
- Movement: Phelim McDermott's direction captures the gentle pacing and meditative quality of Miyazaki's storytelling
- Cultural Authenticity: The production honors Japanese aesthetics and storytelling traditions while being accessible to Western audiences
- Technical Innovation: Cutting-edge stagecraft creates magical moments that feel impossible yet utterly real
Production Fact: The Totoro puppet requires multiple puppeteers working in perfect synchronization to bring the beloved character to life with all his gentle personality and charm.
