The New West End Musical Featuring Paddington
First-look images have been unveiled for the upcoming West End musical, Paddington The Musical, which is inspired by the beloved children’s books and films. This new production promises to bring the iconic character of Paddington to life on stage in a fresh and exciting way. The show will begin previews at London’s Savoy Theatre on Saturday, offering audiences a glimpse into the world of the small bear from Peru.
The story follows Paddington as he is taken in by the Brown family after a chance meeting at a London railway station. The bear, known for his love of marmalade sandwiches, arrives in London with his red hat, brown trunk, and a tag that reads “please look after this bear.” These details are highlighted in the released images, which also show Paddington sitting on a bed wearing his blue duffle coat while holding what appears to be a letter.
A trailer for the musical features the character sitting on a box at Paddington Station, the location that gave him his name. A voiceover says: “This is a passenger announcement, the station is now closing, please go home.” This scene sets the tone for the production, capturing the essence of the original stories.
Voicing Paddington is off-stage performer and remote puppeteer James Hameed, with on-stage actress Arti Shah also playing a role in bringing the character to life. The production has been adapted from the books by Michael Bond and the hit films, which feature Ben Whishaw as the voice of the bear.
The cast includes Amy Ellen Richardson as Mrs. Brown, Adrian Der Gregorian as Mr. Brown, and Doctor Who star Bonnie Langford as Mrs. Bird. These talented performers add depth and charm to the production, ensuring that the spirit of the original stories is preserved.
Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley expressed their excitement about the project, stating: “After many years of exploration and development, we are thrilled, alongside StudioCanal, to finally bring Paddington to life on stage. What we as producers always hoped to achieve was, quite simply, Paddington on stage — and thanks to the immensely talented artists, both on and off stage, we believe we’ve realized that.”
The musical was written by Jessica Swale, with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, the singer from McFly. This creative team brings a unique blend of storytelling and musical talent to the production.
Paddington, first published on October 13, 1958, has seen numerous adaptations over the years, including a BBC TV version in 1976, voiced by the late Sir Michael Hordern. More recently, there were movies released in 2014, 2017, and 2024, all of which performed well at the box office.
The story of Paddington and the bear’s image have also inspired the latest series of the puppet-based satirical series Spitting Image. However, StudioCanal, which produces the Paddington films, and Paddington and Company are taking legal action against Avalon, the producer of the series, alleging copyright infringement.
Paddington The Musical is now booking until October 25, 2026, offering audiences a chance to experience the magic of the beloved character on stage. With its engaging storyline, talented cast, and creative team, the musical is set to become a must-see production for fans of all ages.
Post a Comment