The world premiere of *My Neighbour Totoro* triumphed at the 2023 Olivier Awards, winning six categories out of its nine nominations at the ceremony. It’s a good time for the Studio Ghibli stage adaptation, too, as *My Neighbour Totoro* will open in the West End next year, with performances at the [Gillian Lynne Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre) from 8 March.

Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 Studio Ghibli film, *My Neighbour Totoro* follows Satsuki and Mei,...

Here's why 'My Neighbour Totoro' deserved all the Oliviers

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Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 Studio Ghibli film, *My Neighbour Totoro* will return to London later next year, opening at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

Next year, the [Royal Shakespeare Company’s](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/royal-shakespeare-company) triumphant 2022 stage adaptation of [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25389-my-neighbour-totoro) heads to the West End's [Gillian Lynne Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre) for a third run due to enormous popular demand. The show won six Olivier Awards and broke the Barbican’s box office record for the most tickets...

What to expect from London shows based on Studio Ghibli films

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Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation film studio founded in 1985. They are known for creating imaginative movies, including *My Neighbour Totoro* and *Spirited Away*.

A stage adaptation of television comedy *Inside No 9* will arrive in the West End next year. The show opens for a 12-week run at Wyndham's Theatre from 18 January 2025.

The TV show's original writers and performers Steve Pemberton (*The Pillowman*) and Reece Shearsmith (*A Very Expensive Poison*) will star in the West End show, titled *Stage/Fright*, which will blend original material with familiar characters from the series. 

Speaking about the announcement, Pemberton and Shearsmith said:...

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's 'Inside No 9' to be adapted for the West End 

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The TV show's original creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith will star in the West End adaptation when it opens next year. 

The hit musical comedy *Titanique* has confirmed plans for a West End run later this year. The show is currently performing at Off-Broadway venue the Daryl Roth Theatre.

The musical, which is co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli, has received critical acclaim and multiple awards since its premiere off Broadway at Asylum Theater in 2022.

The parody of James Cameron's Oscar-winning *Titanic* film features a raft of Celine Dion’s iconic songs including “My Heart Will...

'Titanique' confirms planned West End run

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The musical has received critical acclaim and multiple awards since its premiere off Broadway at Asylum Theater in 2022. It is currently at the Daryl Roth Theatre.

The British writer James Graham is on an incredible run at the moment. He just won the Olivier Award for Best New Play for *Dear England*, a fantastic drama about football manager Gareth Southgate, which enticed new audiences into theatre, and the musical *Tammy Faye*, for which he supplied the book, is opening on Broadway this autumn.

He’s also a prolific screenwriter, with recent hits including the crime series *Sherwood* and the dystopian drama *The Way*. Graham has that rare combination of...

Learn more about James Graham’s career ahead of 'Boys from the Blackstuff'

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From plays *Dear England* and *This House* to TV hits like *Sherwood*, Graham is unstoppable – and now his *Boys from the Blackstuff* is coming to the West End.

The bright lights of West End theatres are always appealing, but there are also a number of exciting Off-West End venues in the capital, such as the small but mighty [Bush Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/bush-theatre), which is nestled in west London.

This theatre has always punched above its weight, launching the careers of hugely successful writers such as James Graham and Lucy Kirkwood, as well as actors like Victoria Wood, Alan Rickman, Andrew Scott, and Phoebe...

A complete guide to the Bush Theatre

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Get to know this exciting new-writing venue in west London, which has launched the careers of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Victoria Wood, among others.

The acclaimed screen and stage actor Ben Whishaw is back in town, starring in the premiere of Margaret Perry’s *[Bluets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39930-bluets)* at the Royal Court. The play is an adaptation of Maggie Nelson’s book and follows someone obsessed with the colour blue – taking in artists like Joni Mitchell and Billie Holiday as they navigate a devastating heartbreak.

Whishaw is joined in *Bluets* by *House of the Dragon* star Emma D’Arcy and *The Girl Before*’s Kayla...

Learn more about Ben Whishaw's career ahead of 'Bluets' at the Royal Court

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The James Bond and *Paddington* actor is co-starring in this new adaptation of Maggie Nelson's book *Bluets* with Emma D'Arcy and Kayla Meikle.

It’s another fantastic year for [Shakespeare plays](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/whats-on/shakespeare) in London, and as the weather (finally!) improves, you can start getting those outdoor shows in the diary, as well as all of the brilliant productions in the West End and beyond.

If you’re after a fresh take on the Bard, you’re definitely in luck. Sir Ian McKellen is already wowing audiences, giving his Falstaff a dynamic new spin in Robert Icke's adaptation of *Henry IV*, *[Player...

See modern adaptations and outdoor productions of Shakespeare plays in London

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From Ian McKellen in *Player Kings* to an incredible open-air season at Shakespeare's Globe, there's a wide variety of shows on offer in London.

You just can’t beat family when it comes to riveting drama. Perhaps that’s because no one gets under your skin quite like the people you love and who know you best – and who are bonded to you by blood, like it or not. From Greek tragedy through Shakespearean slanging matches and contemporary clans, shows with family drama at their centre have always ruled our stages.

That’s certainly true of London theatre this year, which features a range of bickering families – from plays like *[Long Day's...

Watch West End family dramas on the London stage

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Enter the homes of these loving but fraught families in West End plays such as *Long Day's Journey Into Night* and musicals like *Back to the Future*.

Get ready for what promises to be the most talked-about play of the year. Hollywood star John Lithgow will play Roald Dahl in a new drama, *[Giant](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39984-giant)*, which sees the famous author about to release his children’s book *The Witches*, but then rocked by a scandal surrounding anti-Semitic comments he made in an article.

Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play, directed by Nicholas Hytner (artistic director of the Bridge Theatre), also stars Elliot Levey...

Learn more about John Lithgow's career ahead of him playing Roald Dahl in 'Giant'

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The Tony and Emmy-winning Hollywood actor is starring in Mark Rosenblatt’s provocative new play *Giant* at the Royal Court in London this autumn.

The full cast has been announced for *Player Kings*, starring Ian McKellen and written by Robert Icke. The new adaptation of Shakespeare’s *Henry IV*, parts one and two, opens at the Noël Coward Theatre, with performances from 1 April.

Joining McKellen, who will take on the role of Falstaff – companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V of England – are Toheeb Jimoh (*Ted Lasso, Romeo and Juliet*) as Hal and Richard Coyle (*Ink, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore*) as King Henry IV.

The history play follows Hal as he goes through a series of capers with his older friend Falstaff, while the looming threat of war grows.

The rest of the cast includes Raphael Akuwudike (Prince John/Second Drawer), Sara Beharrell (Hotspur’s Servant/Snare/Davy), Samuel Edward-Cook (Hotspur/Pistol), Geoffrey Freshwater (Bardolph), James Garnon (Worcester/Silence), Alice Hayes (Messenger/Carrier), Henry Jenkinson (Harcourt), Nigel Lister (Northumberland/Francis), Annette McLaughlin (Warwick), Mark Monero (Peto), Hywel Morgan (Sir Walter Blunt), Joseph Mydell (Lord Chief Justice), Clare Perkins (Mistress Quickly), Daniel Rabin (Poins), David Semark (Vernon), David Shelley (Sheriff/Surrey), Robin Soans (Shallow), Tafline Steen (Tearsheet/Lady Percy), and Perry Williams (Page/Douglas/Thomas).

*Player Kings* has design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Lee Curran, sound by Gareth Fry, casting by Julia Horan, and fighting design by Kev McCurdy.

Associate costume designer Johanna Coe, hair and make-up designer Susanna Peretz, and associate directors Jack Bradfield and Lizzie Manwaring complete the creative team.

*Player Kings* is at the Noël Coward Theatre until 22 June.

Book [*Player Kings* tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/37071-player-kings) on London Theatre.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=37071&content_product_id=37071&venue_id=128&product_type=show&qt=2)

*Photo credit: artwork for Player Kings. (Photo courtesy of production)*

Ian McKellen-led 'Player Kings' announces full cast

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Ages 14+. Please note: Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to a ticketholder who is at least 18 years old. 

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Genre: Play

Player Kings

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McKellen told BBC News, "I've resisted offers to play John Falstaff [but] Robert Icke's ingenious adaptation was irresistible."

Ian McKellen has played many Shakespearean roles, including *Richard III*, *Coriolanus*, and *King Lear*. His most recent Shakespeare performance was as Hamlet at Theatre Royal, Windsor in 2021. On screen, he is perhaps best known for playing Gandalf in *The Lord of the Rings* and *The Hobbit*. He is a six-time Olivier Award recipient and was Oscar-nominated for *Gods and Monsters* and *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* — not to mention that McKellen has been nominated for all major acting awards. He was knighted in 1991.

Known for his innovative stagings and adaptations of classic plays, Icke became the youngest recipient of an Olivier Award for Best Director for *Oresteia* in 2016, and he also received Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Awards. He directed Andrew Scott as Hamlet in a production broadcast by the BBC, and which transferred to New York (with Alex Lawther taking over the lead role). More recently, he received an Evening Standard Theatre Award for *The Doctor*, which played at the Almeida Theatre, in the West End, on tour, and in Adelaide and New York.

## What to watch for

- *Henry IV: Part 2* features the famous line “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
- Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Antony Sher, and Simon Russell Beale all played Falstaff, a plum role for character actors.
- Falstaff is the star of his own comedy, *The Merry Wives of Windsor*.
- Falstaff is thought to be inspired by the real-life Sir John Oldcastle, a friend of the future Henry V who was eventually executed for heresy and treason. Another influence is Sir John Falstof, a soldier who fought in the Hundred Years’ War.
- Ian McKellen first appeared in *Henry IV* as an undergraduate at Cambridge, playing the ancient Justice Shallow. Derek Jacobi played Hal, and renowned director John Barton staged the production.

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Get Player Kings Tickets | See Sir Ian McKellen | TodayTix

See the legendary Sir Ian McKellen as Sir John Falstaff in *Player Kings*, a new version of Shakespeare’s mighty history plays *Henry IV: Parts 1 and 2*, adapted and directed by award-winning writer and director Robert Icke. Book *Player Kings* tickets on London Theatre now.

Based on the turbulent reign of Henry IV and set in a divided England in 1403, the *Player Kings* play builds toward the climactic Battle of Shrewsbury. Henry IV struggles to maintain his shaky claim to the throne as a group of rebel noblemen plot to overthrow him.

But the best part of Shakespeare’s play is Prince Hal’s misadventures in the pubs of London with drunken knight John Falstaff — and with McKellen in the role, we can expect this strand of the play to be front and centre. Can their friendship survive the pressures of kingship? 

Before *Player Kings* in the West End, the renowned McKellen last appeared in the charming Frank & Percy at The Other Palace opposite Roger Allam. At Christmas 2022 and early 2023, he toured in the title role in the pantomime *Mother Goose*. His most recent Shakespeare appearance was as Hamlet at Theatre Royal, Windsor. He has been nominated for countless acting awards and is a six-time Olivier Award recipient. 

Audiences and critics celebrate Icke’s productions of the classics for their fresh and gripping storytelling. He became the youngest Olivier Award winner for Best Director for *Oresteia* in 2016. In 2023, his acclaimed play *The Doctor* played at the Almeida Theatre, in the West End, and in New York. Noted for his inventive use of technology, Icke has put on Shakespeare stagings include Hamlet (starring Andrew Scott), which was acclaimed for its high-tech CCTV concept. Audiences can surely expect similar innovation from this medieval-set but thematically contemporary Shakespeare revisal.

Tickets to *Player Kings* in London are available now. Book your *Player Kings* tickets on London Theatre today.

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Player Kings Tickets | Starring Ian McKellen

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Ian McKellen - 'one of the world's greatest actors' (Times) - plays Falstaff in a new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, adapted by the award-winning writer and director Robert Icke.

Sir Ian McKellen was born in Burnley&nbsp;in 1939. He was drawn to the theatre from the age of three&nbsp;following a trip to Manchester's Opera House to see Peter Pan. At the age of 18 he attended St Catherine's College in Cambridge where he became a member of the Marlowe Society. His contemporaries&nbsp;included Trevor Nunn and <a href="/actor-profile/derek-jacobi">Derek Jacobi.</a>

After a period working in repertory theatres around the UK, he became a member of Laurence Olivier’s <a href="/theatres/national-theatre">National Theatre</a> Company in 1965. McKellen performed frequently in the Royal Shakespeare Company during the 1970s and&nbsp;1980s, taking leading roles in Macbeth in 1976 alongside Judi Dench.

Outside of his theatrical work he is probably most recognised for his roles as Gandalf the Grey/White in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Hobbit Trilogy,&nbsp;and as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto in the X-Men franchise.

2007 marked a return to the RSC and to working wth Trevor Nunn appearing in productions of The Seagulland King Lear, both shows had a residency at the <a href="/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre">Gillian Lynne Theatre</a>. In 2009, he appeared in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot alongside his X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart at the <a href="/theatres/theatre-royal-haymarket">Theatre Royal Haymarket</a>. They would go on to reprise their roles on Broadway in Godot in 2013, the production running in rep with *No Man's Land* by Harold Pinter. &nbsp;

In September 2016, he and Stewart once again re-united on the West End Stage at the <a href="/theatres/wyndhams-theatre">Wyndhams Theatre</a> in No Man's Land. A year later,&nbsp;McKellen provided&nbsp;the voice of The Demon in the West End premiere of <a href="/show/the-exorcist">The Exorcist</a>.&nbsp;

In summer 2018, Ian McKellen played&nbsp;<a href="/show/king-lear">King Lear</a> in a transfer of Jonathan Munby’s Chichester Festival Theatre. McKellen played the role in Chichester, and told the press it was likely to be his ‘last big Shakespearean part’.&nbsp;King Lear&nbsp;transferred to the&nbsp;<a href="/theatres/duke-of-yorks-theatre">Duke of York’s Theatre</a>. For his 80th birthday, he gave a <a href="/show/ian-mckellen-on-stage">nationwide tour filled with stories, anecdotes and monologues</a>, including a three month run at the <a href="/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre">Harold Pinter Theatre.</a>&nbsp;

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Read all about Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, X-Men) and his performances on the West End stage at LondonTheatre.co.uk

Ian McKellen - Stars on Stage | London Theatre

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12+ Everyone, regardless of age, must have their own ticket to enter the theatre. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to a ticket holder who is at least 18 years old. Children under the age of 5 will not be admitted. 

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The Motive and the Cue

Following a highly acclaimed, sold-out run at the National Theatre, The Motive and the Cue transfers to the West End for a strictly limited 15-week run, playing at the Noël Coward Theatre.

The Noël Coward Theatre opened as the New Theatre on 12 Mar. 1903. In 1973, the theatre’s name was changed from the New Theatre to the Albery Theatre, as a tribute to the theatre’s long-serving manager Sir Bronson Albery. Sir Cameron Mackintosh acquired the theatre through his company, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, in 2005 and renamed the theatre in memory of the famous playwright, Noel Coward.

The theatre famously played host to two theatre companies whose theatres were destroyed during the Blitz – the [Old Vic](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/old-vic-theatre) and [Sadler’s Wells](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/sadlers-wells) both performed at the theatre until their new theatres were built in the 1950s. 

The theatre also played host to the premiere of Lionel Bart’s world famous musical *Oliver!* The show was a huge success, running for 2,618 performances.

Several notable actors have appeared in productions at the theatre, including [Judi Dench](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/judi-dench), [Helen Mirren](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/helen-mirren) and [Patrick Stewart](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/patrick-stewart). 

## Noël Coward Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has four levels - Stalls, Royal Circle, Grand Circle and Balcony.

The Stalls offers excellent views throughout. The high setting of the stage allows for good views.

The view from the Royal Circle is completely unobstructed and the seating is well raked.

The Grand Circle is set fairly high, but again offers unobstructed views of the stage. 

Whilst the Balcony is high, the seats are well raked and comfortable with a good amount of legroom.

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The new adaptation of Shakespeare’s *Henry IV*, parts one and two, is written by Robert Icke and will star Toheeb Jimoh and Richard Coyle alongside McKellen.

Ian McKellen-led 'Player Kings' announces full cast

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