The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced the full cast of its critically acclaimed production of My Neighbor Totoro for its move to London's West End.

Based on Hayao Miyazaki's beloved 1988 Studio Ghibli film, this coming-of-age story follows one summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei. My father moved the family to the countryside to be closer to my mother while she was recuperating in a rural sanatorium. Mei encounters magical creatures and ancient forest protectors she calls Totoro, and the sisters are soon immersed in adventure.

Victoria Chen will make her RSC debut as Mei. Tan has extensive international experience, having worked in Singapore, the UK, the US, China, Australia and Iceland. Her most recent credits include The Night Before Christmas at the Polka Theater and the children's adaptation of As You Like It at the Orange Tree Theatre. She starred in the award-nominated sketch comedy "Fat Kids Are Harder to Kidnap" from 2013 to 2022.

Ami Okumura Jones returns as Satsuki, following her acclaimed performances in the West End and Barbican Centre. Her diverse body of work includes roles in Lyric Hammersmith's Scandal and Wendy and Peter Pan at Leeds Theatre, as well as appearances in Netflix's The Choice and Kitti Katz.

Tabuchi Dai reprises his role as Tatsuo/Fuugo puppeteer. His theater credits include Southwark Theatre's Usagi Yojimbo and Lyric Hammersmith's The Over Coat. TV viewers may recognize him from appearances on The Industry (HBO/BBC), Invasion (Apple TV+) and The Crown (Netflix).

The show's unique Kazego Puppet Company is led by Matthew Leonhart as chief puppeteer. Leonhart's voice acting credits include the critically acclaimed game "Sifu" and numerous cartoons, and he has collaborated with 59 Productions/Rambert on projects such as "Invisible Cities".

Ai Ninomiya returns as singer (Wind Child), bringing with her experience from major productions such as Les Misérables and the Japanese tour of Chess the Musical.

The stage play, adapted from playwright Tom Morton Smith and directed by Philim McDermott, won six Olivier Awards and five WhatsOnStage Awards. The production made history at the Barbican, breaking the single-day box office record during its 2022 premiere.

The creative team includes Tom Pye (production design), Basil Twist (puppet design and direction), and Will Stuart, who created new arrangements of Joe Hisaishi's original score. The show features live musical performances with sound design by Tony Gayle.

Executive producer Joe Hisaishi and the RSC have teamed up with Nippon TV and Improbable for the transfer, following successful broadcasts at the Barbican Center in 2022-23 and 2023-24. The title's artwork features a specially created hand-drawn title by Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki.

My Neighbor Totoro will run at the Gillian Lynne Theater in London from March 8 to November 2.