Ranking: ★★★★★
Venue: London Coliseum
Forged: Kanna Hashimoto, Kotaro Daigo, Hikaru Yamano, Fu Hinami, Tomorowo Taguchi, Romi Park, Kenya Osumi, Sunao Yoshimura and Obata no Oniisan 

A masterpiece of storytelling and beautiful visuals SPIRITED AWAY, tells the enchanting story of Chihiro who whereas touring to a brand new residence along with her household, stumbles right into a world of implausible spirits dominated over by the sorceress Yubaba. When her mother and father are changed into pigs and she or he is put to work in a magical bathhouse, Chihiro should use her wits to outlive on this unusual new place, discover a approach to free her mother and father, and return to the conventional world.

When you’re unfamiliar with Studio Ghibli, they’re among the most lovely animations on the market. Stuffed with a life and whimsy that’s so distinctive to the worlds created by Hayao Miyazaki, and amongst these; Spirited Away is maybe probably the most beloved of all. I feel that is why lots of people, myself included, went into this stage adaptation probably not realizing what to anticipate. I can guarantee that any avid followers is not going to be dissatisfied. 

Spirited Away follows ten-year-old Chihiro, whose life is modified when she and her mother and father enter the spirit realm. The story centres round a shower home which is run by a witch named Yubaba, and brings collectively a complete solid of Japanese gods and spirits, exploring what their lives appear like once they’re having fun with some downtime, and that of these compelled to work there.

What was really exceptional about Spirited Away is that there was by no means a time the place the stage didn’t really feel alive. I feel this has been the largest battle in adapting animation for a reside viewers, and even on display, prior to now. The usage of puppetry, reside orchestra and projection meant that each scene felt as vibrant and quirky as you’d anticipate from a Studio Ghibli manufacturing, the principle set was consistently transferring, the staging by no means the identical from scene to scene; there was at all times one thing to take a look at and every little thing was so gorgeously designed. 

From the second you step foot into the theatre you’re spirited away your self and totally immersed within the story. 

The choreography of the roles might be what’s most commendable in regards to the present. There are as many roles that require a number of our bodies to deliver the character to life as there are single actors. Although even a few of these roles, resembling Chihiro and Lin, are performed by as much as 4 actors over the run, which means this is without doubt one of the largest altering casts; one thing that’s commonplace in Japan. As for roles like Haku and Kamaji, their presence on stage is the work of as much as 5 individuals between the actor and the puppeteers, who gown in khaki to mix in with the staging, and at no level does this take away from the immersive-ness of the story.

You can be left too surprised to course of how they achieved their feat reside, proper in entrance of your eyes, with out you seeing it coming. 

Spirited Away is as true to the supply materials as it may be, although within the endeavour to not depart something out, the runtime does creep in direction of being an hour longer than the animated model. Die-hard followers will seemingly overlook this element, like I did, however for anybody seeking to expertise the story for the primary time, it’s one thing to remember. That being mentioned, it is a present in its first week and it’s completely doable that issues will run otherwise because the manufacturing progresses by way of its run.

Spirited Away is probably the most breath-taking piece of theatre I’ve ever seen and one I’ll bear in mind eternally.

That is a type of theatre productions that may undoubtedly stick with anybody who watches it. Even for those who don’t assume that the story appeals to you, I’d advocate any fan of theatre give this manufacturing an opportunity and see what could be achieved on stage with the appropriate ardour and creativity. Spirited Away is right here to usher in a brand new calibre of West Finish productions and is one to not be missed. 

You may ebook tickets to see Spirited Away on the London Coliseum, right here.

Assessment initially posted to Stage To Web page.