PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 12/12/23 at 10:11am

Luke Sheppard directing; currently in development/workshop phase

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/12/23 at 9:59pm

This is great material for a musical, and especially exciting that they're drawing from the two films. Hugh Grant's character would EASILY translate to the stage.

I don't know the writing team, and Luke Shepard's work hasn't wow'd me up to this point. I suppose he's becoming a new director-for-hire who can present himself well in a pitch meeting.

[LuckyDipster]

Posted: 12/13/23 at 6:43am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I don't know the writing team"

Tom Fletcher - songwriter for the band McFly.  This song screams Paddington to me.

 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 12/13/23 at 4:40pm

I wonder if they will have a person dressed in a bear costume or go with something more Julie Taymor theatrical. 

I can't wait to see this. 

[emlo99]

Posted: 12/13/23 at 7:43pm

aww. Fun!

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 12/13/23 at 9:38pm

BETTY22 said: "I wonder if they will have a person dressed in a bear costume or go with something more Julie Taymor theatrical."

 

I can see them going the SpongeBob route with recognizeable apparel without facial disguises.

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/13/23 at 11:05pm

The movies are also a not-subtle metaphor for the immigrant experience: bear from Peru looks different from humans, faces great adversity in London, and has to gradually gain respect one person at a time. Which would give them a lot to work with should they wish to take that farther (Peruvian actor, Peruvian puppet designer, differences in music style for Paddington vs other characters, etc)

[MezzA101]

Posted: 4/24/25 at 7:48am

'Paddington' Musical to Open This Fall on London's West End

 

https://variety.com/2025/theater/global/paddington-musical-open-fall-west-end-1236376031/

[MezzA101]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 12:43pm

'Paddington the Musical' Reveals Cast Except Bear, First-Look Photos

https://variety.com/2025/theater/global/paddington-the-musical-cast-except-bear-first-look-photos-1236493794/

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 1:50pm

The kid in me is screaming YES, YES, YES  !!!

Oh, OK.  My adult self, as well.   

[KrupYou]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 5:00pm

I cannot wait

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 8/21/25 at 6:08pm

My most anticipated production of the year on both sides of the Atlantic 

[macbeth]

Posted: 8/22/25 at 1:12pm

Same! How do we think they're doing the bear? 

[George in DC]

Posted: 8/23/25 at 9:57pm

KrupYou said: "I cannot wait"

 

I can wait.   Oyyy ...  this sounds horrendous

 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/10/25 at 2:09pm

Paddington The Musical announces complete casting (almost)

https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/paddington-the-musical-announces-complete-casting-almost_1693688/

[OrchardAndRivington]

Posted: 9/10/25 at 10:42pm

macbeth said: "Same! How do we think they're doing the bear?"

If I were to wager a guess.. similar to Olaf in Frozen.

[justherehanging]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 5:11am

Never been to savoy 

 

should I sit stalls row f or dress circle row b 

[CHGriffiths]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 6:18am

I'd say both are equally good. I sat row E of stalls for Sunset Blvd. and Row C of dress for Mean Girls and both views are excellent, so i would just go with personal preference on whether you prefer being stalls or circle.  The auditorium is quite narrow but deep, so it doesn't really matter how central you are, tou just want to be as far forward as possible. All seats are very comfy (some of the best) with decent leg room and have quite a good rake for sight lines.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/1/25 at 5:43pm

What a cutie!!!!!!!!!!! Any reports from the first preview?



 

"The team behind the bear includes Tahra Zafar, Paddington Bear designer; Audrey Brisson, bear physicality associate director; Phill Woodfine, remote puppetry coach; and Annabelle Davis, Paddington Bear casting director. Alternate Paddington on-stage performers are Abbie Purvis and Ali Sarebani."

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/1/25 at 7:52pm

Is it just a child actor in a suit? Super cute and well done. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/1/25 at 8:09pm

RippedMan said: "Is it just a child actor in a suit? Super cute and well done."

It's a Little Person.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/1/25 at 11:01pm

Very adorable and initial reports are coming out very strong. This could be a massive hit. The movie Paddington 2 was notably the highest rated movie on rotten tomatoes when it came out in 2017 until 2021, when it received its first negative review. I expect the folks behind the franchise have been very careful to make sure the material is nothing but perfect.

Updated On: 11/1/25 at 11:01 PM

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/1/25 at 11:03pm

This looks amazing. Very strong first preview reviews, curtain call on social media as well. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/1/25 at 11:45pm

Who plays the voice of the bear?

[Elisheba Rachel]

Posted: 11/2/25 at 2:18am

I just saw a video of the curtain call.  The bear looks non expressive and it seems like the actress in there can’t see as she needed to be guided along.