The stage adaptation of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO wins six Olivier Awards

Final autumn, London’s Barbican Theater hosted the Royal Shakespeare Firm’s theatrical adaptation of the Studio Ghibli traditional to a sold-out crowd. My Neighbor Totoro. Final weekend, following the announcement that the manufacturing would return for a restricted time in fall 2023, the manufacturing received six prestigious Olivier Awards.

Olivier’s six wins embrace Greatest Leisure or Comedy, Greatest Director for Phelim McDermottand all Design Awards: Costume (Kimie Nakano), Her (Tony Gayle), Collectively (Tom Pie) and Lighting (Jessica Hung Han Yun). It was additionally nominated in three different classes – for theatrical choreography (Basil Twist), Authentic Music/New Orchestrations (Joe Hisaishi And Will Stuart), and Greatest Actress (Mei Mac). Olivier’s six wins come simply months after the present scored 5 WhatsOnStage Awardsvoted on by the general public in February.

We could not be happier to have received SIX #OlivierAwards 🤩 ⁰⁰ Congratulations to the entire My Neighbor Totoro group 💚👏✨ ⁰⁰#FindYourSpirit pic.twitter.com/gfZamGVzc3

— My Neighbor Totoro (@totoro_show) April 2, 2023

The playwright for My Neighbor Totoro, Tom Morton Smithdevoted the present’s award to his stillborn daughter.

According to the BBC:

“In a heartfelt speech, he stated he had written Totoro with the enjoyment and expectation of being a brand new mum or dad however, after the dying of his daughter, he wished to maintain her reminiscence alive when folks watched the play.

The Laurence Olivier Awards – higher referred to as the Olivier Awards – acknowledge excellence on the London stage. The awards have been in existence since 1976 and are introduced by the Society of London Theatre. When it comes to affect, the Olivier Awards are the British equal of the Tony Awards – simply because the Tonys have a good time New York’s Broadway Theater and are thought-about the head of accomplishment in American theatre.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988) is an anime traditional from acclaimed animation studio Studio Ghibli, famend for producing award-winning blockbuster movies – 5 of the studio’s movies have been nominated for Academy Awards, and Taken away as if by magic acquired an Oscar in 2003. Directed and written by Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki My Neighbor Totoro follows the adventures of younger women Satsuki and Mei as they transfer to the countryside with their father whereas their mom is sick in hospital – there they encounter woodland spirits and surreal creatures, together with the movie’s title Totoro.

The Royal Shakespeare Firm adaptation My Neighbor Totoro was written by Tom Morton-Smith and produced by the movie’s authentic composer, Joe Hisaishi, at the side of Unbelievable and Nippon TV. He had his first 15-week run between October 8, 2022 and January 21, 2023 – and tickets have been onerous to return by.

It even set a brand new field workplace document earlier than it even staged its first efficiency – because the Barbican Theater stated it surpassed the variety of tickets bought in a single day once they opened gross sales for the present (beating a 2015 manufacturing of Hamlet starring Benedict Cumberbatch).

The brand new restricted collection of My Neighbor Totoro will happen from November 21, 2023 to March 21, 2024 (opening of reservations to the general public on April 21, 10 a.m. GMT).

When My Neighbor Totoro was first announcedJoe Hisaishi – the unique movie’s composer and govt producer of the venture – stated:

“In Japan, many individuals are keen on theater and musicals, however there aren’t any authentic Japanese exhibits or musicals carried out on the earth. “Totoro” is a Japanese work well-known all around the world, and so this stage adaptation may have the potential to succeed in a world viewers. That is what I believed, and I stated to Mr. Miyazaki ‘I need to see such a present’ and he stated ‘sure, provided that you are going to.”

“This accountability is a large activity, however we’ve got chosen to work with the Royal Shakespeare Firm, a globally prestigious firm, and with their assist we will make it occur. I’m delighted that the RSC has turn into our accomplice as a result of I really feel plenty of commonalities between the standard of the RSC and the aesthetics of Mr. Miyazaki. That is an progressive venture. Phelim McDermott is an excellent director, and his group is enthusiastic, inventive and really hardworking. They love Totoro and the sensation of anticipation is excessive.

Credit score: Manuel Harlan RSC with Nippon TV

Full breakdown of rewards for My Neighbor Totoro on the Barbican theater in London:

Gained (6)

• Noel Coward Award for Greatest Leisure or Comedy
• Greatest Costume Design – Kimie Nakano
• Greatest Sound Design – Tony Gayle
• Greatest Set Design – Tom Pye
• Greatest Lighting Design – Jessica Hung Han Yun
• Sir Peter Corridor Award for Greatest Director – Phelim McDermott

Nominated (3)

• Gillian Lynne Award for Greatest Theater Choreographer – Basil Twist for Puppet Course
• Greatest Authentic Rating or New Orchestrations – Joe Hisaishi and Will Stuart
• Greatest Actress – Mei Mac