Discover the magic of My Neighbour Totoro with an overnight stay and tickets to see this
West End hit
Winner of six Olivier awards, My Neighbour Totoro has been mesmerising audiences in the West End for over a year and now The Simple Things is offering one lucky reader and a guest the chance to experience the magic with a pair of tickets to see this awe-inspiring adaptation at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre, plus a stay at The Cumberland Hotel with breakfast.
Moved from the city to the countryside while their mother recuperates, My Neighbour Totoro follows two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, as they explore their new surroundings and the magical creatures that inhabit them – including Totoro, the ancient protector of the forest. Soon, the girls are caught up in the creatures’ adventures, and are subsequently transported to a long-forgotten world of spirits, sprites and magic.
With jaw-dropping puppetry, this stage adaptation of the Studio Ghibli classic animation is brought to you by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Executive Producer Joe Hisaishi in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets* with an overnight stay at London’s The Cumberland Hotel, we’re asking you to write a haiku inspired by the spirit of Totoro, whether that’s friendship, woodland walks, rainstorms, childhood wonder, trees, gardens or the quiet magic of nature. So get creative and you and a guest could soon be enjoying the wonder of Totoro.
For more about the show and to book, visit: totoroshow.com or follow at: @totoroshow
About haikus
A haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry made up of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure. Often inspired by nature, the seasons or everyday moments, haikus are thoughtful and evocative.
Line one: 5 syllables
Line two: 7 syllables
Line three: 5 syllables
How to enter
For your chance to win two tickets to see My Neighbour Totoro, plus an overnight stay, enter your haiku into the competition by clicking the button below by the closing date of 15 August 2026.
Terms and conditions
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 15 August 2026. One winner will be selected on 01.09.26 and contacted by Bicycle Partnerships Ltd via email. The winner has one week to claim their prize, which must be redeemed by 01.12.26. *The prize is two tickets to see My Neighbour Totoro, subject to availability, and excluding Bank Holidays and school holiday periods. At least one person must be over 18. The prize also includes a one-night stay for two in a double room at The Cumberland Hotel, including breakfast. No other expenses are included and the winner is responsible for transport to and from the venue. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Maximum one entry per person. All haikus must be original and not created by AI. Entries will be judged by representatives from the production team of My Neighbour Totoro at the Royal Shakespeare Company based on creativity, originality and relevance to the theme. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promoter reserves the right to amend or close the giveaway at any time, without notice. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
