The Royal Shakespeare Company has unveiled the first official glimpse of Basil Twist’s magnificent Totoro puppet for the West End stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbour Totoro, capturing the iconic rain-soaked bus stop moment when sisters Mei and Satsuki first encounter the mystical forest guardian. This breathtaking visual – released as the production extends its record-breaking run at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre through March 2026 – showcases the puppetry magic that helped the show sweep six Olivier Awards after shattering the Barbican’s single-day box office records.
Executive produced by Joe Hisaishi (composer of the film’s legendary score, here reorchestrated for the stage) and adapted by Tom Morton-Smith, the production stars Victoria Chen and Ami Okumura Jones as the Kusakabe sisters navigating a world where the everyday and extraordinary collide. Directed by Phelim McDermott with production design by Tom Pye, the show blends Kazego Puppetry Ensemble’s innovative techniques with hand-drawn title artwork from Studio Ghibli’s Toshio Suzuki – ensuring Miyazaki’s 1988 animated masterpiece loses none of its wonder in its transition to live theater.
Disney+ Scores Major Football Rights in European Streaming Play
Meanwhile, Disney+ has secured a game-changing three-year deal to become the exclusive U.K./Ireland home of Spain’s LaLiga, beginning August 16 with Valencia CF vs. Real Sociedad. The streaming platform will showcase Saturday night matches featuring global giants like Real Madrid (now starring England’s Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold) and FC Barcelona as part of standard subscriptions, with ESPN handling production and commentary from a team including Steve McManaman and Ian Darke.
The football expansion continues in October when Disney+ becomes UEFA Women’s Champions League’s European streaming hub for five seasons – a major coup as women’s football viewership skyrockets globally. With LaLiga already the U.K.’s most-followed international league, these moves position Disney+ as an emerging powerhouse in sports streaming.
From the enchanting forests of Studio Ghibli to the electric pitches of Spanish football, today’s announcements prove storytelling magic happens both onstage and on the field.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.