TOHO Co., Ltd said today “Toho is deeply grateful for the opportunity to be welcomed back to London. This production made its world premiere in Tokyo in 2022, followed by sold-out success from London and Shanghai to Seoul. Through this journey, it has proven that the masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki from Studio Ghibli, brought to life through John Caird’s masterful direction, resonates universally. As we embark on a grand world tour from December 2026 through 2028, it is our greatest joy to further share the excellence of Japanese performing arts with audiences worldwide.”
PW Productions said today “We’re thrilled to be bringing this extraordinary production of Spirited Away back to London after its sell-out run in 2024. The overwhelming response from audiences during its European premiere made it clear that there is a huge appetite for the production, and we’re delighted to be returning to the magnificent London Coliseum, where the production’s majestic scale can be fully realised.”
Bob Holland, Executive Producer at the London Coliseum, said today “We’re delighted that Spirited Away returns to the London Coliseum in Spring 2028 following the extraordinary and sell-out success of their first run. This production was a huge hit with audiences of all ages and captures the magic of such a beloved Studio Ghibli classic. We look forward to welcoming audiences back for what promises to be the return of a breathtaking adaptation.”
Following a sell-out tour of Japan in 2022, the original Japanese cast performed this spectacular production for a limited season at the London Coliseum in 2024, where it played to sold-out audiences of over 300,000 people across 17 weeks. Opening to both critical and audience acclaim, it won Best New Play at the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards and was nominated for four Olivier Awards including Best Set Design (Jon Bausor, Toby Olié, Daisy Beattie, Satoshi Kuriyama), Best Costume Design (Sachiko Nakahara), Best Sound Design (Koichi Yamamoto), and Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. Critical acclaim included:
★★★★★
The Independent
“constant, unpredictable spectacle”
★★★★★
The Express
“utterly enchanting”
★★★★
Financial Times
“boundless invention”
Following these milestone achievements, the production further expanded its global footprint across Asia, continuing its international success with an overwhelming 42-performance run at the Shanghai Culture Square in China in July and August 2025. This was immediately followed by a triumphant three-month, 94-performance long-run at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House in South Korea starting in January 2026. With every single performance entirely sold out across both international runs, this Japanese-born masterpiece has firmly established its powerful presence on the global stage, paving the way for its highly anticipated 2026–2028 world tour.
Studio Ghibli’s SPIRITED AWAY, created by legendary animator and director Hayao Miyazaki, wasre-imagined for the stage by Toho Theatrical Department and Olivier and Tony Award-winning director John Caird (Les Misérables). The production is presented in the original Japanese, with English captions. Miyazaki’s masterpiece is brought beautifully to life with a live orchestra playing the magnificent film score by Joe Hisaishi arranged by Brad Haak (Mary Poppins), dazzling set design by Jon Bausor (Bat Out of Hell), wildly imaginative puppets designed by Toby Olié (Pinocchio: National Theatre), choreography by Shigehiro Ide (NODA MAP Series), and lavish costumes by Sachiko Nakahara.
Director Hayao Miyazaki’s timeless masterpiece SPIRITED AWAY became an explosive blockbuster after its 2001 release and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. A masterpiece of storytelling and stunning visuals SPIRITED AWAY tells the enchanting tale of Chihiro who while traveling to a new home with her family, stumbles into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. When her parents are turned
into pigs and she is put to work in a magical bathhouse, Chihiro must use her wits to
survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents, and return to the normal world.
TOHO Co., Ltd., has been one of the premiere Japanese entertainment companies for theatre and film since its foundation in 1932, best known internationally for Godzilla movies as well as the Akira Kurosawa masterpieces. TOHO also plays a leading role in the Japanese theatre community, producing the highest quality shows for the past 85 years. TOHO’s production of My Fair Lady premiered in 1963 and was the first-ever production of a Broadway musical performed fully in Japanese. Since then, TOHO has been a pioneer of musical theater throughout Japan introducing musical masterpieces from Broadway, the West End and locations around the world, including: Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, RENT, Jersey Boys, Elisabeth, Newsies, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Tootsie. TOHO also produces its own original shows which include: Roman Holiday, Marie Antoinette, Lady Bess, Knights’ Tale, KINGDOM, SPY x FAMILY, Your Lie in April, JOJO’s Bizarre Adventure, Spirited Away, Kane and Abel, Itaewon Class, The Twelve Kingdoms and many others.
PW Productions is one of the West End’s most prolific and significant theatre producers, responsible for some of the most successful productions in British theatre since it was founded in 1983 by Peter Wilson MBE. As well as Spirited Away at the London Coliseum, productions have included Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, Stephen Daldry’s production of J.B. Priestley’s classic thriller An Inspector Calls, De La Guarda at the Roundhouse, Nigel Slater’s Toast, Ross Willis’ Wonder Boy and many more. The company has acted as General Manager and Production Accountant for more than 500 productions throughout the world. PW Productions has also presented work in Japan, Singapore, Canada, USA, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Austria, Australia and Hong Kong.
The original Japanese Stage Production of SPIRITED AWAY is based on the Oscar-winning animated feature film by Hayao Miyazaki, adapted by John Caird, co-adapted by Maoko Imai and featuring the original score by Joe Hisaishi.
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