LONDON (ANN/THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN) – In a thrilling debut, the stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved anime film “Spirited Away” took centre stage in London’s vibrant West End theatre district on Tuesday.
Originally premiering in Japan in 2022, this adaptation is helmed and adapted by British director John Caird.
The Japanese cast delivers their performance in their native language, complemented by English subtitles adorning the top and sides of the stage.
The play will run through August 24.
West End is considered a sacred place in the theatre world, alongside Broadway in New York. It is extremely unusual for a performance originating from Japan to be performed in the Japanese language overseas for nearly four months.
On Tuesday, Kanna Hashimoto, 25, performed as the protagonist Chihiro in the matinee, and Mone Kamishiraishi, 26, in the evening show, both of which were nearly sold out. There were standing ovations at the end of the performances.
