PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#2
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.
Stand-by Joined: 8/2/23
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#3
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/13
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#4
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.
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#5
Posted: 12/13/23 at 7:43pm
aww. Fun!
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/22/03
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#6
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#7
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)
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#8
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/
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#9
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/
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#10
Posted: 8/21/25 at 1:50pm
The kid in me is screaming YES, YES, YES !!!
Oh, OK. My adult self, as well. 
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#11
Posted: 8/21/25 at 5:00pm
I cannot wait
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#12
Posted: 8/21/25 at 6:08pm
My most anticipated production of the year on both sides of the Atlantic
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/03
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#13
Posted: 8/22/25 at 1:12pm
Same! How do we think they're doing the bear?
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#14
Posted: 8/23/25 at 9:57pm
KrupYou said: "I cannot wait"
I can wait. Oyyy ... this sounds horrendous
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#15
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/
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#16
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.
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#17
Posted: 10/8/25 at 5:11am
Never been to savoy
should I sit stalls row f or dress circle row b
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#18
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#19
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."
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#20
Posted: 11/1/25 at 7:52pm
Is it just a child actor in a suit? Super cute and well done.
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#21
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.
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#22
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.
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#23
Posted: 11/1/25 at 11:03pm
This looks amazing. Very strong first preview reviews, curtain call on social media as well.
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#24
Posted: 11/1/25 at 11:45pm
Who plays the voice of the bear?
PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale#25
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.
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