Cover The stage adaptation of ’Spirited Away’ (Image: courtesy of johncaird.com)
The stage adaptation of ’Spirited Away’ (Image: courtesy of johncaird.com)
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The stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s famous ‘Spirited Away’ is heading to Shanghai this summer after successful runs in Japan and the UK—mark your calendars now
The stage version of Spirited Away, based on Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s 2001 fantasy film by the same name, will head to Shanghai Culture Square Theatre this summer. It will run from July 7 to August 3.
Spirited Away is a tale of friendship and coming of age that portrays the adventures of a young girl Chihiro who, with her family, accidentally enters a spiritual realm on their way to their new house. Chihiro befriends magical creatures and must find a way to break free from the sorceress Yubaba and rescue her family.
In case you missed it: First look: Studio Ghibli classic ‘Spirited Away’ premieres on stage in Japan
Above The trailer of ‘Spirited Away: Live on Stage’
It was first adapted into a play by John Caird, the Olivier and Tony award-winning director of Les Misérables. The play has two nearly identical versions featuring two different casts—in one, Mone Kamishiraishi plays Chihiro, and in the other, the same character is played by Kanna Hashimoto.
The production premiered at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo in March 2022 and has had several re-runs in Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Nagoya. Between April and August 2024, it ran at the London Colosseum, with the protagonist being played by Japanese actors Rina Kawaei and Momoko Fukuchi.
The Shanghai version will also feature an all-Japanese cast. The actors are yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, one can look forward to more than 50 stunning puppets designed by English puppeteer and director Toby Olié, including the iconic White Dragon Haku, which is sure to immerse viewers in an incredibly magical experience.
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Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
