John Caird's stage adaptation of "The Enchanted City" debuts in Japan

A new theatrical production based on Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning masterpiece The Enchanted City it will be presented at the Japanese Imperial Theater in February and March. The production will then go on tour in Osaka (April), Fukuoka (May), Sapporo (June) and Nagoya (June and July).

This new production is written and directed by the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director and honorary partner. director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, John Caird (The Miserables, Nicholas Nickleby, Daddy Long Legs), who was an admirer of the film for.

The show centers on Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who is moving with her parents to their new home. They get lost in a mysterious world of fantastic spirits, ruled by the sorceress Yubaba, who turns Chihiro's parents into pigs. After a series of bizarre and dangerous challenges, including the loss of his identity, Chihiro must use all his wits to survive in this strange place and return to the human world. The story of his struggle and resilience is a timeless gift for all of us, but especially for those who strive to live through these difficult times.

“I feel so excited and privileged to be working on the first theatrical adaptation of Sen in Chihiro“Says Caird. For many years I have regarded Miyazaki Hayao as one of the preeminent geniuses of world cinema and the greatest proponent of the anime form. I share the belief in all the dominant themes of Miyazaki's work, themes that are at the heart of Sen in Chihiro world - care for the environment, respect for nature, faith in the strength of the good spirits within us and the power of young women and men to change the world for the better.

Adds Caird: “The double casting as Chihiro will give me the chance to work again with the brilliant and charming Kamishiraishi Mone, with whom I had such an exciting collaboration on Knights' Tale, and now he offers me the same opportunity with the very talented, lively and moving young actress Hashimoto Kanna. I must have spent a thousand hours working on it Sen in Chihiro and I can't wait to spend many thousands more ”. John Caird said.

“We, Hayao and I, enjoyed John's vision. He is a person we can trust. I can't wait to see Chihiro grow on stage under his direction, ”says Toshio Suzuki of Studio Ghibli, the film's producer. "I could tell how much you love this story from his happy face when I gave him a No-Face (Kaonashi) piggy bank."

Chihiro will be voiced by Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi. Kanna, who has starred in and appeared in many films, will make her long-awaited stage debut. Mone, known internationally for voicing in the film "Your Name", delighted Japanese audiences with her versatile acting and singing talents.