Paddington: The Musical
This article needs a plot summary. (December 2025) |
| Paddington | |
|---|---|
| The Musical | |
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing West End promotional poster | |
| Music | Tom Fletcher |
| Lyrics | Tom Fletcher |
| Book | Jessica Swale |
| Basis | |
| Premiere | 1 November 2025: Savoy Theatre, London |
| Productions | 2025 West End |
Paddington: The Musical is a musical with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale. It is based on the 1958 children's book A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond and the 2014 film Paddington distributed by StudioCanal. It is the second stage adaptation of the book series, following the 1983 musical Paddington Bear's Magical Musical by Shirlie Roden.[1]
The musical premiered in previews at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End on 1 November 2025.[2]
Background
[edit | edit source]The musical is based around the character Paddington Bear, first created by Michael Bond in the 1958 novel A Bear Called Paddington.[3] Adapted from the novel[4] and the 2014 film Paddington[5] it has a book by Jessica Swale.[6]
The musical was directed by Luke Sheppard and developed by Sonia Friedman Productions, StudioCanal and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music UK.[7][8]
Productions
[edit | edit source]West End (2025)
[edit | edit source]In April 2025, it was announced that Paddington: The Musical would receive its world premiere in the West End at the Savoy Theatre from 1 November 2025.[9] On 21 August 2025, the initial casting and creative team were announced, with the exception of Paddington, which was to be revealed during the first preview.[10] During the first preview, it was announced that Arti Shah and James Hameed play the role of Paddington with Shah as the on-stage performer (with Abbie Purvis and Ali Sarebani as alternates) with Hameed performing as the voice and controlling Paddington's facial expressions, whilst also playing the role of Young Man.[11]
Cast and characters
[edit | edit source]| Characters | West End |
|---|---|
| 2025 | |
| Young Man / Paddington (Voice/Remote Puppeteer) |
James Hameed |
| Paddington (on-stage) |
Arti Shah |
| Mrs. Brown | Amy Ellen Richardson |
| Mr. Brown | Adrian Der Gregorian |
| Judy Brown | Delilah Bennett-Cardy |
| Jonathan Brown | Joseph Bramley Leo Collon Stevie Hare Jasper Rowse |
| Millicent Clyde | Victoria Hamilton-Barritt |
| Mrs. Bird | Bonnie Langford |
| Grant | Tarinn Callender |
| Mr. Gruber/The Explorer | Teddy Kempner |
| Mr. Curry | Tom Edden |
| Lady Sloane/Mr. Brown's Boss/Train Conductor | Amy Booth-Steel |
| Tony | Timi Akinyosade |
| Tanya/Voice of Aunt Lucy | Brenda Edwards |
Musical numbers
[edit | edit source]|
Act I[12]
|
Act II[12]
|
Recordings
[edit | edit source]Prior to the musical commencing previews the song "The Explorer and the Bear", performed by Tom Fletcher,[13] and "Pretty Little Dead Things", performed by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt were released by Decca Records.[14]
Critical reception
[edit | edit source]The West End production received nearly universal positive acclaim from the critics.[15]
References
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