NEW CASTING AS THE MUCH LOVED SHOW MARKS ONE YEAR IN THE WEST END

Executive Producer Joe Hisaishi, the original composer of the feature film and who initially had the idea of a stage production, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable, announce new casting for the stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro. This March the multi-award winning show also celebrates one year at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End.

Marking her West End debut in a principal role, Helen Chong joins the company to play the role of Satsuki. Continuing their roles in the cast is Victoria Chen as Satsuki’s younger sister Mei, Dai Tabuchi as their father Tatsuo, Jacqueline Tate as Granny and Ai Ninomiya as the Singer.

Joining the show’s unique Kazego Puppetry Ensemble is Karen Barredo, Melisa Camba, Jeffrey Chekai, Chui Yen, Eero Chen Liu (Principal puppeteer), Natsumi Kuroda (Tsukiko), Yui Minari, Michelle Miners, Gun Suen (Principal puppeteer), Si Rawlinson (Movement Captain), Sango Tajima (Miss Hara/Principal puppeteer) and Bai Zhijin. Continuing in their roles are Rachel Clare Chan, Phyllis Ho, Victor Itang, Gabriel S. Janoras, Kumiko Mendl (Nurse Emiko), Steven Nguyen (Kanta), Richard P. Peralta and Jamie Zubairi. The swings include Ronnie Lee, Wenhsin Lee, Amber Lin and Sera Maehara.

Photography of Helen Chong and Victoria Chen by Matt Crockett