There’s no better way to escape those dark winter nights than with a trip to the theatre. Happily, November is serving up plenty of exciting London shows to keep any winter blues at bay, with some major openings in the West End and beyond. 

Those who can't wait for *The Greatest Showman* musical to arrive in London can whet their appetities with [*Come Alive!*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/37379-come-alive), a spectacular circus show based on the music of the hit 2017 film, with an...

Top theatre to see in London in November

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West End

Find out the best shows to see in London in November 2024, from *Barcelona* with Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte, to *Dr. Strangelove* with Steve Coogan.

Additional shows have been announced in the Bush Theatre's line-up for 2025, including a new play starring Olivier Award nominee and *It's a Sin* actor Omari Douglas.

He has been cast in Coral Wylie's new play *Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew*, which follows 19-year-old Pip as they dig into their family's past, unearthing old secrets. Directed by Debbie Hannan (Overflow), the cast also includes Wil Johnson, Pooky Quesnel, and writer Wylie. The show will run from 8 February to 22 March.

Making...

Bush Theatre announces new shows in 2025 season

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Work by Coral Wylie, babirye bukilwa, and Mohamed-Zain Dada will continue the Bush Theatre's programming in 2025, with Olivier Award nominee Omari Douglas returning to the stage.

New play *The Last Laugh* will run at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End from 25 February to 22 March next year, ahead of a season in New York and a UK tour. 

Written and directed by Paul Hendy, the show re-imagines the lives of three of Britain's greatest comedy heroes: Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse. *The Last Laugh* played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. 

Bob Golding, Damian Williams, and Simon Cartwright will all reprise their roles as Eric Morecambe,...

'The Last Laugh' to transfer to the West End

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Written and directed by Paul Hendy, the show re-imagines the lives of three of Britain's greatest comedy heroes: Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse.

Something wicked this way comes… and London is packed with spook-tacular shows and activities that are perfect for Halloween 2024. The annual fright night falls on 31 October, which is a Thursday this year, and if you just love everything about this spine-tingling holiday, then you’ll want to start thinking about your plans now.

One ghoulishly great way to celebrate Halloween is with a play or musical – perhaps one that centres on witches, like...

Top shows and attractions in London for Halloween

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Trick or treat! Discover a wide variety of fun activities and events to book for Halloween in London, ranging from spine-chilling shows to eerie attractions.

It’s Halloween, duh! [*Mean Girls*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/35503-mean-girls) has announced it will be extending performances at the Savoy Theatre in the West End until 8 June, 2025. 

Tina Fey's hit musical, which is based on the 2004 film of the same name, follows student Cady Heron as she attempts to fit into North Shore High after being home schooled in Africa. But when she gets involved with popular girl group The Plastics, she learns that there are few things more dangerous...

'Mean Girls' tickets now available through June 2025

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Tina Fey's hit musical, which is based on the 2004 film of the same name, follows student Cady Heron as she attempts to fit into North Shore High after being home schooled in Africa.

I dreamed a dream! West End star Lucie Jones (*Wicked, Waitress, Pippin, Ghost, The Baker’s Wife*) will return to the London production of [*Les Misérables*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/300-les-miserables-tickets) for eight weeks this December. She will play Fantine from 23 December to 15 February 2025.

Katie Hall, who is currently playing Fantine in the West End, will perform the role in the World Tour of *Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular* from 26 December, in Manchester,...

Lucie Jones to return to 'Les Misérables' in the West End for eight weeks 

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This October, *Les Misérables* entered its 40th year in London and is celebrating with its first world tour: *Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular*.

Look, it’s Glinda! And Elphaba! You can’t have one without the other. Stephen Schwartz’s musical phenomenon *Wicked* is an evergreen (sorry) spectacle, which follows Elphaba and Glinda as they go from enemies to friends, eventually becoming the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

The musical has been a vehicle for dozens of talented women playing the lead roles, including Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles on Broadway. Now this much-loved tale is being...

Two best friends: Elphaba and Glinda power pairings in 'Wicked'

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To celebrate Wicked Day, we look back on some of the incredible musical's most notable Elphaba and Glinda pairings, from Rachel Tucker and Louise Dearman to current duo Alexia Khadime and Lucy St. Louis.

[*Moulin Rouge! The Musical*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23350-moulin-rouge-the-musical-tickets) has announced that performances will extend through 24 May 2025 at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End. 

Based on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 Oscar-winning film starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, and featuring the music of artists such as Elton John, The Beatles, and Elvis, *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* is a story of love and loss, beauty, and unparalleled extravagance. It follows lovesick...

'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' tickets now available through May 2025

1200 LT Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Natalie Kassanga as Satine

Based on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 Oscar-winning film starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* is a story of love and loss, beauty, and unparalleled extravagance.

Almeida Theatre production *The Years* will transfer to London's West End next year. The play will run at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 24 January to 19 April.

Internationaal Theater Amsterdam’s artistic director Eline Arbo returns to direct her adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s semi-autobiographical novel, which follows the life of one woman born during the second world war, living through different eras and juggling marriage, motherhood, and more.

Deborah Findlay, Romola Garai, Gina McKee, Anjli...

Almeida Theatre's 'The Years' to transfer to the West End

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Romola Garai, Harmony Rose-Bremner, Gina McKee, Deborah Findlay, and Anjli Mohindra will reprise their performances from the Almeida run. 

Casting has been revealed for [*Clueless the Musical*,](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/36641-clueless-the-musical) which opens at the Trafalgar Theatre next year. Performances begin on 15 February.

Emma Flynn (*Beautiful, Little Shop of Horrors*) will make her West End debut as Cher Horowitz, while Keelan McAuley (*Heathers the Musical, Grease*) will join in the role of Josh. They both starred in the developmental run at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley in February earlier this year.

Amy...

'Clueless the Musical' announces casting in the West End

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The musical has a book by the the original film's writer/directory Amy Heckerling, while the score is by singer-songwriter KT Tunstall.

The world-leading visual effects company, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, will create the puppets, animatronics, and digital animation for [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25389-my-neighbour-totoro). The world premiere of *My Neighbour Totoro* begins performances at the [Barbican](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/barbican-theatre) on 8 October, with an opening night on 18 October, and performances to 21 Jan. 2023. Book *My Neighbour Totoro* tickets on London Theatre.

The *My Neighbour Totoro* puppets are designed by Basil Twist at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Over the years, the workshop’s produced characters for television shows such as *Sesame Street* and *The Muppet Show*. 

“The Jim Henson Company is synonymous with imagination and childhood,” commented Twist. “When I accepted this challenge and needed a team who could build my designs and bring Studio Ghibli’s treasured characters to life, I knew it had to be Henson. I truly believe we are creating something extraordinary.” Mervyn Millar will create additional puppets for *My Neighbour Totoro*. 

*My Neighbour Totoro* follows two sisters, Satsuki and Mei. After moving to the countryside, the siblings explore their new surroundings and encounter magical creatures. 

Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 Studio Ghibli film will be adapted for the stage by Tom Morton-Smith, in collaboration with Improbable and Nippon TV. There’s original composition by Joe Hisaishi and direction by Phelim McDermott.

The show features production design by Tom Pye, costume design by Kimie Nakano, lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound design by Tony Gayle, and movement by You-Ri Yamanaka. Casting will be announced at a later date. 

*My Neighbour Totoro* is at the Barbican.

Book *My Neighbour Totoro* tickets on London Theatre.

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png) ](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25389-my-neighbour-totoro)

*Photo credit: My Neighbour Totoro behind the scenes (Photo by Jay P. Morgan)*

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop to create ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ puppets 

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Ages 6+. Younger guests are welcome although the production is not suitable for under 4s (including babes in arms). Children need to occupy their own seat. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. All guests, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket.

My Neighbour Totoro - LON [25389]

My Neighbour Totoro

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My Neighbour Totoro 2025

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Poster for My Neightbour Totoro in London

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Be transported to the 1950s Tokyo countryside and a fantastical world of forest spirits in *My Neighbour Totoro*, a coming-of-age tale based on the 1988 Studio Ghibli film of the same name. Book *My Neighbour Totoro* tickets on London Theatre. 

*My Neighbour Totoro* in London has been a fan favourite since its premiere in 2022. In fact, the show broke the Barbican Centre box-office record for ticket sales in a single day. In 2023, the show also earned an impressive six Olivier awards, including for costume design, direction, and set design. 

The imaginative production tells the story of young girls, Satsuki and Mei, who relocate to the countryside with their father following their mother’s hospitalization. During their summer adventures, they encounter numerous woodland spirits, including the furry giant Totoro. 

*My Neighbour Totoro* is a play with an immensely talented creative team, including those who earned Olivier Awards for their work on the show’s run at the Barbican. This includes direction by Phelim McDermott, production design by Tom Pye, costume design by Kimie Nakano, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and sound design by Tony Gayle. 

Additionally, the puppetry by puppetmaster Basil Twist in *My Neighbour Totoro* is truly exceptional. The fleet of puppets, from chickens to Totoros, is a new style of puppetry that the creative team calls “wind spirits.”

“We’ve got an on-stage ensemble of puppeteers. They’ve got their own costumes that help them be invisible at certain points, but they’re a presence. And they are like storytellers. It’s a little bit like in the movie, if you suddenly got to see the animators who were making that cartoon happen,” McDermott [told The Standard.](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/my-neighbour-totoro-barbican-theatre-royal-shakespeare-company-b1032199.html)

My Neighbour Totoro - LON - London Theatre

Studio Ghibli’s 1988 fantastical anime film *My Neighbour Totoro*, which tells the tale of two girls who move to the countryside and encounter forest spirits, is returning to the stage following its Olivier Award-winning run at the Barbican. 

The star-studded creative team includes set design by Tom Pye, costume design by Kimie Nakano, direction by Phelim McDermott, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, and sound design by Tony Gayle. All of whom won Olivier Awards for their work on *My Neighbour Totoro* during its run at the Barbican. 

*My Neighbour Totoro* is a play that is set apart by its stunning puppetry headed by puppetmaster Basil Twist. For the show, a new style of puppetry, called “wind spirits,” was created, which focuses on having human puppeteers rather than machines. The puppeteers have their own costumes, which are visible throughout the production. 

“It’s a little bit like in the movie, if you suddenly got to see the animators who were making that cartoon happen,” [McDermott told The Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/my-neighbour-totoro-barbican-theatre-royal-shakespeare-company-b1032199.html).

## What to watch for

- Studio Ghibli has had numerous hit films in addition to *My Neighbor Totoro*, this includes Oscar-winning *Howl’s Moving Castle* and *Spirited Away*. 
- The story by Hayao Miyazaki is, in part, biographical, as his mother suffered from tuberculosis when he was a child and spent much of her time in the hospital. This is similar to the film and now the play in which the girls’ mother is hospitalized. 
- In addition to dialogue, *My Neighbour Totoro* relies on musical and visual storytelling to create a captivating tale for audiences. 
- The performance incorporates aspects of Shinto and Japanese folklore as it transports audiences into the imaginative mind of a child. 

My Neighbour Totoro - LON - TodayTix

The imaginative Studio Ghibli anime film *My Neighbour Totoro*, which tells the tale of young girls in the Tokyo countryside discovering woodland spirits, returns to the stage following its Olivier-Award-winning run at the Barbican. 


The best entrance you’ll see in a theatre this year belongs to the title character in this feverishly anticipated stage version of Studio Ghibli’s 1988 anime film. Behind the curtains, a giant silhouette gradually appears, and when those curtains swing open, we finally see him: a huge shaggy mass, so enormous, so peculiar and so utterly beguiling that the audience breaks into rapturous applause. It’s the moment that we know, behind doubt, that the RSC has got this exactly right: *[My Neighbour Totoro](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25389-my-neighbour-totoro-tickets)* is going to be a massive hit.

In fact, the production was a record-breaker before it even opened. It’s the fastest-selling ticket in Barbican history – beating the previous holder, Benedict Cumberbatch’s *Hamlet*. The Japanese [Studio Ghibli](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/studio-ghibli-my-neighbour-totoro-on-stage-world-premiere) has a passionate international following thanks to work like the Oscar-winning *Spirited Away*, *Howl’s Moving Castle* and *My Neighbour Totoro*. But could the studio’s very specific aesthetic and tone really be translated to the stage? 

Absolutely. Tom Morton-Smith’s adaptation strikes a perfect balance of honouring Hayao Miyazaki’s creation and seeking a new theatrical language, brilliantly realised in Phelim McDermott’s exquisite production. The 1950s-set story is a fairly simple one: 10-year-old Satsuki and four-year-old Mei move with their father from Tokyo to the countryside, so they can be nearer to their hospitalised mother, who has tuberculosis. There they encounter the extraordinary spirits of the forest, like Totoro. That leaves plenty of room for flights of imagination, and for beautiful detail in the world-building and relationships.

Most effectively, the production keeps us in that child’s-eye view. McDermott plays cleverly with scale: the goat is larger than usual, because it’s being viewed by an alarmed – and petite – Mei. We only hear snippets of adult conversations, particularly about the mother’s health crisis. But we’re fully immersed in that childlike awe at each discovery: the city girls’ pleasure at collecting acorns, watching tomatoes ripen on the vine, seeing a clear moon, and then finding that extra wonder in the sprites. You could interpret it as animism or a modern climate change message, or just a love of nature.

Likewise, the show itself takes great delight in each creative solution to telling this wild and wonderful fairy tale. The black-clad ensemble of skilful puppeteers brings the soot sprites to life by dancing them around on wires, until they fly up into the sky on what looks like a nursery mobile. One side of a bus is whisked on – with the lead performer, holding up the driver, deliberately overshooting it to give the audience a knowing chuckle. They weave between being invisible and visible, filling that liminal space and suggesting that there are ever-present spirits supporting us: an extremely comforting notion right now.

Of course, the most important element here is the puppets representing Totoro and his clan. Designed by Basil Twist, and built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, they are simply spectacular. Totoro has to be big enough that Mei can clamber onto his belly – and he is. 

He’s also a mad mix of bunny, owl and fuzzy washcloth, with wiggling ears, a rubber tongue in his Muppet-like mouth and a gleaming Cheshire cat grin (Lewis Carroll is a definite comparison point here), who communicates in whale noises and the occasional roar. He’s ancient, unhurried, strange. His smaller pals have waddling chicken feet and googly eyes. And wait until you see the Catbus: lit like a beacon, gambolling on its improbable 12 legs.

Tom Pye’s set also has real wow factor. The family’s home, with distinctive sliding screens, comes apart and reforms in different configurations, in harmony with the giant trees with curling branches that glide into view. The band, who play film composer Joe Hisaishi’s evocative score live, are perched up on wooden platforms, part of the forest. The paddy farmers slide onto the stage, plants in rows attached to their feet like skis. Amidst the greenery, the girls’ dresses are pops of colour, pink and yellow. 

That lead pair are wonderfully played by Ami Okumura Jones, whose perceptive Satsuki lurks somewhere between innocence and adulthood, and Mei Mac, who hilariously embodies the fearless ball of energy that is Mei. Both have convincingly youthful physicality, bouncing up and down on their toes in excitement, pleating the front of their dresses when nervous, or puffing themselves up to look fierce. (Superb movement direction throughout from You-Ri Yamanaka.) There’s lovely support too from Nino Furuhata as local boy Kanta, who gets tongue-tied around girls, and Jacqueline Tate as the kindly Granny.

In fact kindness is all around in a tender piece that prizes generosity, community and patience; even Jessica Hung Han Yun’s ravishing lighting feels like a rush of warmth. The film’s most famous scene is an absolute stunner here: as the girls wait at the bus stop for their father, in the rain, Totoro slowly lumbers up to them. Satsuki lends him an umbrella, and this wise creature is utterly charmed by the sound of the raindrops pinging off his new covering. It’s a reminder to take time to savour our surroundings, and to find joy even in the toughest times. Theatre at its most magical.

*My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican to 21 January 2023. Book tickets to My Neighbour Totoro on London Theatre.*

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=25389&content_product_id=25389&venue_id=788)

*Photo credit: The cast of My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican. (Photo by Manuel Harlan)*

'My Neighbour Totoro' review – this Studio Ghibli adaptation is theatre at its most magical

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Don't miss the theatrical event of 2025 as the record-breaking, award-
winning My Neighbour Totoro transfers to London's West End.

Read our review of *My Neighbour Totoro* in London, Tom Morton-Smith's new stage adaptation of the Studio Ghibli film originally created by Hayao Miyazaki.

Ages 12+. Children under the age of 4 will not be admitted into the theatre. All persons aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult and may not sit on their own within the auditorium.

Standing at the Sky's Edge - LON

Standing at the Sky's Edge

Hailed as ‘the best British musical in decades’ (Daily Express), you won’t want to miss this multi award-winning sensation, now in its final weeks in the West End. Experience this ‘epic musical for the ages’ (Broadway World) – book Standing at the Sky’s Edge tickets on TodayTix. 

The Gillian Lynne Theatre, formerly known as the New London Theatre, is a prestigious performance venue in the West End of London. Located in Covent Garden, the theatre is home to an array of world-class performances, ranging from musical theatre, plays, and concerts. The theatre was renamed in 2018, in honour of the renowned British ballerina and choreographer, Dame Gillian Lynne. The architecture of this unique venue is innovative and captivating, with a circular auditorium that offers an immersive viewing experience. The theatre is also known for its state-of-the-art facilities, excellent acoustics, and a seating capacity that can accommodate over 1,000 spectators.
 ### How to get to the Gillian Lynne Theatre:
 The Gillian Lynne Theatre is accessible through various means of transportation. The closest underground station is Holborn, which is a short five-minute walk to the venue. Alternatively, you can also reach the theatre by bus, with the following routes: 1, 59, 68, 91, 168, 171, 188, 243, and 521 stopping near the venue. If you prefer to drive, the nearest car park is located at the Bloomsbury Square Car Park.
 Please note that due to the theatre's central location, it is advisable to check for any possible travel disruptions or roadworks before your journey.

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Gillian Lynne Theatre 

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The Gillian Lynne Theatre originally opened in 1847 as the Mogul Music Hall. From 1919 to 1965, it was named the Winter Garden Theatre, but after renovations, the theatre opened as the New London Theatre in 1973. 

The theatre housed Andrew Lloyd Webber’s *Cats*, which was the longest-running musical in West End history when it closed in 2002.  It was also used as a television studio, and was the home of Masters Snooker for two years.

Since the closure of *Cats*, the theatre has hosted productions of Lloyd Webber’s *Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat*, *School of Rock*, and *Cinderella*.

In 2018, Andrew Lloyd Webber announced the theatre would be renamed the Gillian Lynne Theatre, the first London theatre to be named after a woman. Lynne worked on productions with the English National Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company and many West End and Broadway shows. She collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber on *Cats, The Phantom of the Opera* and *Aspects of Love.* 

## Gillian Lynne Theatre Seating Information

The Gillian Lynne Theatre features a thrust stage that juts into the auditorium. Seats are on three sides of the auditorium. 

Some seats offer side views of the action on stage. But every seat guarantees a view that's close to the action.

Gillian Lynne Theatre - London Theatre

Opened in 1847, the Gillian Lynne Theatre hosted many Andrew Lloyd Webber's productions including Cats. In 2018, it became the first London theatre named after a woman.

Gillian Lynne Theatre - TodayTix

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The Gillian Lynne Theatre is a prestigious venue in London's West End, offering world-class performances and excellent facilities. It's easily accessible via public transportation.

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop to create ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ puppets

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