World tour of original Japanese stage production of SPIRITED AWAY announced
Photo credit: Johan Persson
TOHO Co., Ltd. have announced a major 2026-2028 world tour of the highly acclaimed stage adaptation of SPIRITED AWAY.
The production will open at the National Theater, Taipei (December 2026 – January 2027), before embarking on a national tour of Japan beginning in Tokyo (March – August 2027), then playing the Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto (May – August 2027), the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles (September –October 2027) and finally, returning to the London Coliseum (March – July 2028) where it had its European premiere in 2024. The London production will be co-produced by PW Productions. Casting and on sale dates for the world tour to be announced.
TOHO Co., Ltd said: “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: "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."
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.
Studio Ghibli’s SPIRITED AWAY, created by legendary animator and director Hayao Miyazaki, was re-imagined for the stage by Toho Theatrical Department and Olivier and Tony Award-winning director John Caird. 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, dazzling set design by Jon Bausor, wildly imaginative puppets designed by Toby Olié, choreography by Shigehiro Ide, 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.