One of my first revelations as the theatre critic of the Observer was watching a ghost story made entirely out of sticky tape: a world of transparency materialised. The work of Improbable Theatre, 70 Hill Lane (1996) was led by Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch and Lee Simpson. Now – improbably – McDermott is at the centre of the theatrical establishment, touching the Royal Shakespeare Company with his wizardry, directing My Neighbour Totoro.
A battery of talent brings Studio Ghibli’s 1988 anime film to the stage. Tom Morton-Smith adapts, quite faithfully, the slight but resounding story, in which two small girls, moving to a haunted house, are comforted while their mother is in hospital by an unlikely forest spirit. Lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun winds shadows around a sweet tale edged with anxiety and loss. As the sisters, adult performers Ami Okumura Jones and Mei Mac have to do some big Child Acting – massive smiles and scampers – but end by transmitting real warmth. Joe Hisaishi’s music is by turns wistful and bouncy, with an occasional peculiar echo of (“we’re all going on a”) Summer Holiday.
