Spirited Away Wins Best New Play at WhatsOnStage Awards

London Production Shines with Multiple Nominations
The stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki's beloved anime film, Spirited Away, has garnered significant acclaim, recently winning the Best New Play award at the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards in London. This production, showcased at the London Coliseum, also received nominations for:

• Best Supporting Performer
• Best Set Design
• Best Costume Design
• Best Wig, Hair & Makeup Design

“We're delighted to have won BEST NEW PLAY at the WhatsOnStage awards 🐉 Thank you to everyone that voted for us💙 #WOSawards #SpiritedAwayUK”
— Spirited Away LONDON
February 10, 2025

Highlights of the Production

• The stage play ran in London from April to August 2024.
• It previously had a successful run in Japan with over 100 performances across cities including Osaka and Nagoya.
• A second run in Japan took place from August 2023 to March 2024.

Creative Team

The production is directed by John Caird, an esteemed director known for his Tony and Olivier Award-winning work, including productions like Les Misérables and Nicholas Nickleby.

The Legacy of Spirited Away

Spirited Away was once the highest-grossing Japanese film globally, retaining its title until surpassed by Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train. It remains a hallmark in animation history, being the only non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature until year when The Boy and the Heron, another Miyazaki film, achieved the same honor.

For more updates, visit Spirited Away's official Twitter and check out the Studio Ghibli Unofficial Fansite.

Sources: Spirited Away London’s X/Twitter, Studio Ghibli Unofficial Fansite