by Studio Ghibli’s Spiritual Away It has been praised and admired by the public since it was first published in 2001.
The animated film – which follows a young girl named Chihiro who accidentally gets lost in a magical world full of spirits – is graced by its stunning animation, instructive storytelling, gorgeous soundtrack and unforgettable characters.
Adapting such a piece of cinema to other media seems like a no-brainer, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the stage adaptation opened for the first time in Japan. Now, in its first ever production abroad, Spirited Away comes to the London Coliseum for a limited period between 8 May and 24 August 2024.
As avowed Studio Ghibli fanatic, you can imagine how excited I was to preview the show, which is a co-production between West End’s PW Productions and Japanese entertainment giant Toho.
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 design of the stage.
Vast masses of bright green foliage fill the vast interior of the Coliseum, while a large digital screen displays a cloudy blue sky – imagery reminiscent of many a Studio Ghibli feature film. Needless to say, I was already pretty excited.
To understand what this really looks like, watch a video review on TikTok and Instagram.
The show begins with Chihiro and her parents driving to their new home through rural Japan. As soon as they pulled up to the tunnel that leads through to 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 more than the digital screen.
Viewers John Caird and Maoko Imai have put together such a great production, I couldn’t help but watch it with a huge smile on my face the whole time.
The show has the most incredible costumes, sets and props, and uses so many different types of performance – from puppetry to acrobatics to fundoshi (loincloth) dancing!
Knowing the film as well as I do, I was constantly wondering how certain moments would be adapted, and each time I was blown away by the level of creativity and attention to detail in this production. .
There were things I hadn’t even seen before – like using smaller and larger puppets and props to give perspective, and to convey things flying or falling, which happens a lot in the film.
Moments like when Yubaba flares up in anger, Haku turns into a dragon or No-Face terrorizes the bathhouse and incorporates carefully choreographed dance and puppetry that has to be seen to be seen.
It is no coincidence that Spirited Away is staged at the largest theater in London’s West End, as the scale and scope of the performance demands the space to truly pop.
Of course, in any kind of adaptation, you might expect changes to the source material, which can sometimes be disappointing if you’re a fan. However, this show follows the movie almost to the letter.
Every beat of the film is there on stage, from the smallest details (Kamaji giving Lin a chargrilled newt to take care of Chihiro) to the biggest of plot points.
Some scenes, such as when Chihiro catches a train out of town, are so beautiful that it almost feels as if you are somehow in the movie. With the set design creeping into the auditorium, it’s like you’re wrapped up in the story.
Joe Hisaishi’s iconic soundtrack from the film also features, making the whole thing even more nostalgic and magical.
Every performance was masterful, and every member of the cast does a great job, especially those who animate the little creatures like the frogs and the soot sprites – or later in the story – the mouse and the bird that Chihiro follows around. And yes, they are as cute on stage as they are in the movie!
Mone Kamishiraishi made the production seamless as Chihiro, and Kotaro Daigo was the perfect Haku. Mari Natsuki’s view of Yubaba was villainous, more than life sublime, and it makes sense considering that Natsuki is not only a veteran stage performer, but also provided the voice of Yubaba in the 2001 film.
Audiences can expect tons of familiar kami (spirits) in eye-popping costumes, and some amazing movement work from the likes of Hikaru Yamano as No-Face and Akino Konno as the Lantern , which were both very exciting.
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 – watch our video review to see what this is like.
From the stalls at least, this was difficult, as I didn’t want to miss the action on stage, but I had to keep checking what was being said.
It’s something I got used to, and it helped to know the story, but even if you don’t know it it’s still pretty easy to keep up, it seems (according to a friend I brought with me) .
There’s definitely something for everyone in Spirited Away, whether you’re a Ghibli purist, a casual fan or if you’ve never even heard of the film before.
So expect a magical experience that is completely unique, true to the film, and incredibly creative and beautiful.
Spirited Away is on display at the London Coliseum until 24 August 2024.
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