I found it completely mesmerising. This show literally follows every beat of the film with complete screen accuracy whilst still using a significant amount of creative stage craft that warrants it as a new experience. Also I was quite far back in the top balcony but still found the show incredibly immersive even in the gods of a theatre as large as the coliseum 😅. I found the language barrier not an issue but I did watch the film a lot as a child and I rewatched it in japenese in prep for seeing the show. The puppetry and kabuki theatre elements were genuinely jaw dropping and the actors were incredible and bringing these characters to life. I think if you know the film you might question how they could do certain scenes on stage but the staging was so smart the show was one of my highlights of my trip to london last week. Still gutted they sold out of No-face plushes though 😢

I was in the world premiere of this show in Japan 2022. As a Japanese, I was surprised at that this show has Beautiful stage set based on Noh （Japanese Traditional perfoming arts) staging and Kuroko system (also TOTORO has that too) and papette was like Ningyo Joruri（Japanese Traditional Puppet Show). The collaboration of Japanese Tradition and Ghibli and stage was just wow for us.

My favorite addition from the show is No-Face’s new theme song, which plays during his dance sequence. It’s a gorgeous piece, and I wish there was a recorded version of it available.

@mathildes8583

Ай бұрын

Finally I can help: it's called Solitude, if we're talking about the same thing

I watched Spirited Away when I was 14 years old, and it’s been holding on as probably one of my favorite movies of all time. Once I heard that there was a production of it running in the West End and that a pro shot of it in Japan was streaming on Max, I just had to watch it and just… wow. It felt like watching the movie for the first time again. Pure magic.

As a massive Spirited Away fan and i can honestly say it was wonderful. I was laughing, crying all while sitting on the edge of my seat. A big mention to all the actors i loved them all. Lin was spot on, my favourite character.

Everyone needs a Radish Spirit in their lives.

I saw this at the weekend and absolutely loved it! I just wanted to say to your point on water on stage; not sure where you were sat, but from the dress circle you could see water effects projected on the stage each time its mentioned, so for instance when the frog spirit swims away the angle looking down on the stage makes it look like he was swimming in the water. There were other effects like the projection rippling when Chihiro steps in the newly formed water in Act 1. Can totally see how this would not be visible in the stalls though.

@MickeyJoTheatre

Ай бұрын

Funnily enough my sister just saw this show from the circle and said the same - I was in the stalls so hadn't noticed this! Very glad you enjoyed the show!

Crush on Haku! Lolol absolutely

I was lucky enough to go see the show a couple weeks ago & absolutely loved it! As soon as it was over my friend & I both said we needed to get tickets to see it again 😂 for the river that the parents point to at the beginning I’m pretty sure there was a projection of water on top of the orchestra but if you were in stalls you probably wouldn’t have seen it. Definitely think it’s best to have raised seating! Loved no face too, at the break my friend & I just turned to eachother & declared he was “bustin it down” which I think is incredibly accurate 😭

Thank you for this review! I finally got to see the show in Tokyo a couple months ago and have been so curious to find out how people take to it in the UK! I was absultely enthralled by it and so maany scenes got me teary eyed. Hearing the music live and the scenes brought to life made me so nostalgic. I also loved how they added song lyrics to some of the original soundtrack. The scene with Rin and Chihiro on the balcony as the women in the dorm are singing was so beautiful. Also I'm obsessed with the little toy trainset to represent the one she sees in the distance! I'm wondering if what you said about them not saying the name "no face" as much, and other slight changes to dialogue is due to subtitles vs english dub or just a different translation style to the official subtitles of the movie. In japanese you don't need to say someones name that often as its assumed who you are talking about/to based on context. That might be it! One thing I am sad about regarding the UK transfer is that the cast rotation was released late and you can only see the schedule on the japanese site, not the english one. A couple of friends of mine are fans of some of the actors and specifically wanted to see them when they went, but missed out because the schedule wasn't annouced. I understand the british audience aren't as likely to know who they all are but even if you aren't a fan of a specific actor I'm sure people who want to see it more than once would love to see different actors potrayals!

My boyfriend and I were just getting into Studio Ghibli films when the pro-shot came to movie theaters. Despite not seeing the original movie (or really only seeing chunks of it), I wanted to see it. I am so glad I did because it was AMAZING! So amazing that I now own a copy of the pro-shot on DVD! Can’t wait to see the original film and then the pro-shot again to compare and enjoy!

my husband and I are big fans of the film and went to see spirited away yesterday, oh we loved it. it is so loyal but with superb additions of no-face’s dance and more emphasis on the songs. I want the large haku as a plush

A couple of comments to add. First, perhaps because it was more visible from where I sat in the Upper Circle, there was a surtitle panel above the stage as well as the two mid-titles on either side. Secondly, it is important to read at least part of the programme before going in to the performance, specifically Maoko Imai and John Caird on the characters and names. That is something that is lacking in the film, you see when Chihiro signs the contract and Yubaba magics away one of the kanji her name changes to Sen, but for non-Japanese speakers it isn't obvious why. This article explains why and the meanings of the other kanji that you see. There is also a difference from the film right at the end after the father and mother notice the leaves on the car; the part of the scene after that is not in the film. To avoid spoilers I won't say what it is, but I think that it finishes the story better. I think that 4* is a fair review; converting "Spirited Away" to the stage is more difficult than "Totoro". I hope that the RSC will try to recreate on stage other Studio Ghibli films, "The Cat Returns" might be a good choice for their next project.

Can't wait to see it in July. I watch a few mins of the proshot and it looks stunning. Got high expectations after loving totoro. I was worried about it being in Japanese however I'm familiar with the film so I probably be fine (but will probably rewatch the film the night before).

@alexoy2k

2 ай бұрын

I'm pretty sure they have english captions

I remember watching Spirited Away when I was younger and being blown away by how gorgeous and moving the film it was. It was like nothing I had ever seen in an animated film. Miyazaki is a true master of his craft and is able to combine action with moments of reflection and atmospheric silence. From your review, it definitely sounds like this play is targeted more at Japanese sensibilities and has elements of Noh and ningyo jorui. I would love to see the show, however, I may have to wait until it streams on Max on December 24th. (I also remember Romi Park as the voice actress for Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist. )

Speaking of titles, my local opera house was built with title readouts in all the seatbacks so each person can have that on if they want. Do they have that in the UK?

Spirited Away is my favorite film of all time! As I live in the US I'll need to wait for it to come on max December 24th, but I can't wait!!!

@GordonHorne-zb3mw

2 ай бұрын

The filmed stage show is on HBO Max right now :)

@melissashilkoff

2 ай бұрын

@@GordonHorne-zb3mw THANK YOU!!!

The puppetry in Totoro was designed by Basil Twist. Look his work up. He's a genius.

I booked this month's ago for August. I've never seen the movie, but I'm hoping I'll enjoy this. It sounds like the kind of thing that would have worked as a kind of interactive theatre like the recent Burnt City by Punchdrunk which I loved.

Ioved the creativity. Spirited away has way more characters than Totoro and they all portrayed it really well. The sequences with doors was crazy, river spirits dance was amazing too. For some reason I didn't like the lead actress much? The actors were more impactful in Totoro. It was easier to see orchestra. I was in circle line so it wasn't visible to met at all. I guess Barbican was much better to watch it in.

I saw this streamed in theaters last year. I thought it was OK, it didn't blow me away. But it isn't my favorite Ghibli film either. Like you said, a lot of stuff happens but you sont really connect with much of it.

Will you make a video about the Bonnie and Clyde tour cancelling? Seems the staff didn’t know either and were shocked!

Saw Spirited Away last night and whilst I was blown away I felt Totoro was better: maybe it has something to do with that being in English? It was difficult to concentrate on the subs as well as the stage. Some things I weren't a fan of like the No Face dance but I'd give it four whereas Totoro is five

I saw Spirited Away last week. Personally I preferred the show more than the film! I found all the puppetry and performances mesmorising

I think the slow tempo comes from the kabuki culture. They do the scene, bow and move to the next scene. Or maybe I am wrong.

I believe the overriding questions are: Does Miyazaki's masterpiece cry out to be adapted as a live-action stage production? Is this an improvement on the film? In short, why?

@lydia1634

2 ай бұрын

I own the pro-shot on Blu-ray. The reason is puppets and musical numbers and stage wonder. My husband and I saw it first at a Fathom event in a movie theater. Spirited Away is one of his favorite movies ever, and he said watching the stage show was like watching the movie for the first time. The stink spirit sequence and the No-Face sequence especially were completely mesmerizing. Utterly jaw-dropping.

Have you ever seen Death Note and do you think the W.E. or BWAY will see a production of it?

@solagovideos

2 ай бұрын

He has, and he posted a 4-star review of it last year.

@IshScout

2 ай бұрын

yes he posted a review. I think they realized Your Lie is more marketable to non fans which is why that production is happening first for a 2nd run. I think both another limited W.E. run & the concept album will happen in Fall then 2025 sometime BWAY will get a limited run as well. They are really dragging out that album release though which is why I think they are waiting until another production happens.

Good review, I was surprised you did not mention the extortionate ticket prices, did you get a free ticket MJ?

@wildoranges

2 ай бұрын

sadly that's a standard ticket price for a West End show.

"periphery titles" ;')

Is it better or worse then my neighbour totoro?

If not surtitles or subtitles, perhaps midtitles?

@carlbaldasso

2 ай бұрын

Or side-titles?

I watched this one on Saturday after going to the West End Flea Market... I was knackered and found the first act really dragging! 🙈 The second act was much better. However... Although it's an incredible piece of theatre with all the puppets, costumes, music etc... I can't help but feel underwhelmed. Everything I heard about this just hyped it so much and walked out thinking it wasn't THAT special 🤷 subtitles were fine but unlike movies, they're not in your line of sign when you're watching the show so you miss a bunch of one or the other... Objectively it was stunning and well done. Subjectively I was disappointed and give it *** 🤣

4 stsrs lol ok... Pretentious

@MickeyJoTheatre

Ай бұрын

Like I articulated, there are shortcomings, but I still thought it was a pretty beautiful and stirring staging of the film 🤷‍♂️

@Nasthenasty

10 күн бұрын

I've seen plenty of plays in my time, no expert like him but I thought 4 stars is spot on. Good but not mind blowing

You took 30 minutes to say the shows sucks. OK.

@MickeyJoTheatre

Ай бұрын

Actually I quite liked it, but there are a couple shortcomings.