A Strange Loop
Michael R. Jackson’s audaciously imaginative new musical bursts into London for a one-time-only limited engagement. This dazzling story of Usher, a queer, Black artist who is struggling to break free of his own self-perception, is a wild ride through the mind of a creative with whip-smart humour at every turn. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2022 and is the hot ticket for summer 2023 at the Barbican Theatre.
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Booking from 17 June 2023 until 9 September 2023
My Neighbour Totoro
Step back into the magical world of Studio Ghibli’s beloved film, as the 6-time Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro returns to the Barbican Theatre this year. With enchanting set design, music from the film performed live and incredible puppetry from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, this classic story of two sisters who befriend larger-than-life forest protector Totoro is a stunning theatrical achievement that will transport you into the heady nostalgia of childhood.
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Booking from 1 December 2023 until 23 March 2024
Run time is 3 hours (including an interval)
Run time is 3 hours (including an interval)
Box Office Contacts
| Box Office: | +44 (0) 20 7638 8891 |
| Access Booking: | +44 (0) 20 7638 8891 |
| Group Booking: | 020 7382 7211 |
| Stage Door: | 020 7638 8891 |
History
Opened by the Queen in March 1982, the Barbican Theatre is part of the vast Barbican Centre, which heralds art, cinema, theatre and culture. Funded by the City of London Corporation, the Barbican Centre was intended as a centre for the arts. With a seating capacity of 1,166, the Barbican was originally designed to be the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC remained at the venue until 2002, when they decided not to renew their contract.
Since then, the Barbican Theatre has become a holding place for touring productions from companies such as Cheek by Jowl, Blue Boy Entertainment, the RSC and Michael Clarke Company. The centre is also associated with international companies including New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Jazz at the Lincoln Centre and more.
Notable productions at the theatre have included the RSC's Henry IV saga, as well as Sonia Friedman's sell-out Hamlet (2015), starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Well-known for hosting avant-garde theatre and touring productions, several shows pass through the Barbican throughout the year. The venue is best-known for hosting RSC productions, including The Taming of the Shrew, Measure for Measure and As You Like It (2019).
In 2019, the Barbican hosted the transfer of Jesus Christ Superstar, which originally played at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in summer 2016 and 2017. The production won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and was praised hugely by audiences and critics alike.
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre were due to transfer their acclaimed production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita to the theatre in Summer 2020, but this was cancelled as the theatre closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The classic musical Anything Goes opened at the theatre in July 2021, starring Broadway star Sutton Foster, Rachel York and Robert Lindsay. The Royal Shakespeare Company's brand new production of The Comedy of Errors transferred from Stratford-upon-Avon to the theatre in December.
The smash-hit revival of Anything Goes returned to the Barbican in summer 2022, as part of a UK tour. The cast included Kerry Ellis, Bonnie Langford and Simon Callow. It was followed by the world premiere stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli film My Neighbour Totoro from October 2022 - January 2023.
In summer 2023, Tony Award-winning new musical A Strange Loop opens at the Barbican Theatre for a strictly limited season, followed by the return of My Neighbour Totoro for a limited 18 week season, following its 6 Olivier Award wins.
Since then, the Barbican Theatre has become a holding place for touring productions from companies such as Cheek by Jowl, Blue Boy Entertainment, the RSC and Michael Clarke Company. The centre is also associated with international companies including New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Jazz at the Lincoln Centre and more.
Notable productions at the theatre have included the RSC's Henry IV saga, as well as Sonia Friedman's sell-out Hamlet (2015), starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Well-known for hosting avant-garde theatre and touring productions, several shows pass through the Barbican throughout the year. The venue is best-known for hosting RSC productions, including The Taming of the Shrew, Measure for Measure and As You Like It (2019).
In 2019, the Barbican hosted the transfer of Jesus Christ Superstar, which originally played at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in summer 2016 and 2017. The production won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and was praised hugely by audiences and critics alike.
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre were due to transfer their acclaimed production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita to the theatre in Summer 2020, but this was cancelled as the theatre closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The classic musical Anything Goes opened at the theatre in July 2021, starring Broadway star Sutton Foster, Rachel York and Robert Lindsay. The Royal Shakespeare Company's brand new production of The Comedy of Errors transferred from Stratford-upon-Avon to the theatre in December.
The smash-hit revival of Anything Goes returned to the Barbican in summer 2022, as part of a UK tour. The cast included Kerry Ellis, Bonnie Langford and Simon Callow. It was followed by the world premiere stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli film My Neighbour Totoro from October 2022 - January 2023.
In summer 2023, Tony Award-winning new musical A Strange Loop opens at the Barbican Theatre for a strictly limited season, followed by the return of My Neighbour Totoro for a limited 18 week season, following its 6 Olivier Award wins.
