Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away Comes to Life on Stage
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away has been adapted into a live stage production, opening at Seoul Arts Center. Director John Caird recreates the film’s rich fantasy world using analog stagecraft rather than heavy projection—rotating sets inspired by the Noh (노, traditional Japanese theater) stage shift scenes smoothly, and creative uses of materials (like plastic sheeting) suggest transformation. Puppetry (퍼펫) and makeup bring a host of odd bathhouse characters to life—from soot sprites to the mask-wearing gods—often eliciting laughter and wonder. A live 11-piece orchestra performs Joe Hisaishi’s celebrated score, enhancing the atmosphere. The show follows the original plot closely, highlighting themes of identity and courage as the young heroine adapts to a strange world. One drawback is that stage sightlines and surtitles can be hard to take in at once. Performances run through March 22.
