Studio Ghibli Spirited Away It has been universally acclaimed and admired since its initial release in 2001.
The animated film, which tells the story of a young girl named Chihiro who accidentally gets lost in a fantasy world full of spirits, is much loved for its stunning animation, instructive storytelling, magnificent soundtrack and unforgettable characters.
Adapting such a fantastic work of cinema into other media seems like a no-brainer, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the stage adaptation first opened. Japan. Now Spirited Away is on stage with its first overseas production. London Colosseum For a limited time between May 8 and August 24, 2024.
as described Studio Ghibli fanatic, you can imagine how excited I was to be able to preview the show, which is a co-production between PW Productions in the West End and Japanese entertainment giant Toho.
Upon entering the theatre, known as the home of the English National Opera and the largest theater in London’s West End, I was immediately struck by the stage design.
A large amount of bright green vegetation covers the Colosseum’s magnificent interior, while a large digital screen displays a cloudy blue sky; the images are reminiscent of many of Studio Ghibli’s feature films. Needless to say I was already pretty excited.
Check out the video review on TikTok and Instagram to get an idea of what this actually looks like.
The show begins with Chihiro and her family traveling through rural Japan, heading to their new home. As they pulled up to the tunnel that took them into the magical world where the story takes place, I was filled to the brim with anticipation, but nothing could have prepared me for the spectacle that awaited beyond that digital screen.
Theater producers John Caird and Maoko Imai have designed a production so wonderful that it was all I could do not to watch it with a huge smile on my face the entire time.
The show features the most incredible costumes, sets and props and utilizes many different types of performance, from puppetry to acrobatics and fundoshi (loincloth) dancing!
Knowing the film as well as I do, I was always wondering how certain moments would be adapted and each time I was blown away by the creativity and attention to detail in this production.
There were things I had never seen before; such as the use of increasingly smaller puppets and props to give a sense of perspective and indicate things flying or falling, which happens very often in the film.
Moments like Yubaba bursting into anger, Haku transforming into her dragon form, or the Faceless One terrorizing the bathhouse all feature elaborately choreographed dancing and puppetry that have to be seen to be believed.
It’s no coincidence that Spirited Away is staged in the largest theater in London’s West End, because the size and diversity of the performance needs space to truly explode.
Of course, with any type of adaptation you can expect changes to the source material, which can sometimes be disappointing if you’re a fan. But this show follows the movie almost to the letter.
Every beat of the movie is present on stage, from the smallest details (Kamaji giving Lin a charbroiled salamander to take care of Chihiro) to the biggest plot twist.
Some scenes, such as Chihiro boarding a train out of town, are so beautifully staged that it feels like you’re somehow inside the movie. Combined with the set design that spans the auditorium, it’s as if you get lost in the story.
The film’s iconic Joe Hisaishi score also makes an appearance, making everything that much more nostalgic and magical.
Every performance was masterful, and every member of the cast does a great job, especially those portraying small creatures like frogs and soot ghosts, or the mouse and bird that follow Chihiro later in the story. And yes, they are just as cute on stage as in the movie!
Mone Kamishiraishi carried the production smoothly as Chihiro, and Kotaro Daigo was an excellent Haku. Mari Natsuki’s take on the malevolent, larger-than-life Yubaba was superb, and it made sense considering Natsuki is not only a seasoned stage performer, but also provided the voice of Yubaba in the 2001 film.
Viewers can also expect tons of familiar kami (spirits) dressed in gorgeous, eye-catching costumes and astounding movement work from the likes of Hikaru Yamano as No-Face and Akino Konno as the Lantern, both of whom are particularly captivating.
One thing to note is that the show is entirely in Japanese, with subtitles appearing on thin, horizontal screens on either side of the stage; Check out our video review to see what this looks like.
This was a bit of a challenge, at least from the stands, because I didn’t want to miss the action on stage, but I had to constantly check what was being said.
It’s something I’m used to, and knowing the story helps too, but even if you don’t it’s still easy enough to follow (according to a friend I brought along).
Whether you’re a Ghibli loyalist, a casual fan, or have never heard of the film before, there’s definitely something for everyone in Spirited Away.
Expect a magical experience that is completely unique, true to the movie, incredibly creative and beautiful.
Spirited Away runs at the London Coliseum until 24 August 2024.
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