PADDINGTON musical in the works with music by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale- Page 2

[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. 

[jpbran]

Posted: 11/3/25 at 3:41pm

I'd guess "non expressive" is due to the guy who provides the expressions/voice being on-stage with the in-suit performer for the curtain call. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 11/4/25 at 4:51am

Oh boy was this an absolute JOY! I haven’t left the theater on a high like this in years, and I couldn’t help but shed a few tears as well. What a sweet and fun production. The last 15 minutes of act 1 needs a bit of tightening, but it’s solid shape. 
 

This will be a massive hit. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/4/25 at 7:10am

 

[binau]

Posted: 11/4/25 at 5:08pm

WOW. This is the next Matilda or Les mis. It’s a kind of hello dolly feel good musical. Everything boop wanted to be but couldn’t. The direction, performances, book, staging, choreography and score are absolutely stunning. This is by far the best new musical running now this season in the English speaking world. A love letter to London, i don’t know if it will ever be in New York City. I don’t know if a show like this could even economically ever exist in New York City. 

Run don’t walk. This isn’t a mediocre every day event is the real deal!!!! Theatre history was evolved at least twice in London this year. First with Evita and now this. 

Updated On: 11/4/25 at 05:08 PM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 10:28am

Paddington Bear Meets BBC Reporter, Goes Viral As Musical Debuts

https://deadline.com/2025/11/paddington-bear-bbc-journalist-viral-west-end-musical-1236606344/

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 12:41pm

London’s West End Will Now Look After This Bear

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/arts/paddington-the-musical-history.html?unlocked_article_code=1.y08.qyjo.Svcm9JnWqU3W&smid=nytcore-android-share

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 1:27pm

binau said: "WOW. This is the next Matilda or Les mis. It’s a kind of hello dolly feel good musical. Everything boop wanted to be but couldn’t. The direction, performances, book, staging, choreography and score are absolutely stunning. This is by far the best new musical running now this season in the English speaking world. A love letter to London, i don’t know if it will ever be in New York City. I don’t know if a show like this could even economically ever exist in New York City.

Run don’t walk. This isn’t a mediocre every day eventis the real deal!!!! Theatre history was evolved at least twice in London this year. First with Evita and now this."

Well you sold me! I was hoping to see it Dec 1 but of course it's sold out! Bummer. 

Updated On: 11/5/25 at 01:27 PM

[binau]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 2:14pm

The demand has been increasing exponentially since performances started - I only bought my ticket a couple weeks beforehand! It's already looking like limited avail in Dec even!

If you happen to be after a single ticket especially I recommend you check back occasionally, I often find in these scenarios a single ticket can pop up. 

I guess some more substantial thoughts:

* The staging is extremely complex and elaborate. Coupled with with the bear it's a visual spectacle. So many set changes, so many pieces. Used as part of the story too not just 'world building'. But it all feels so tasteful and well designed, think a high quality children's picture book. 
* I find the book and characters to be very novel, funny, likeable - feels like all the supporting characters get a moment to shine both dialogue and song. The plot is interesting I genuinely wanted to know how the story would progress. Obviously there are some tropes in here with this kind of family entertainment, but they also like to be playful and insert kind of low key adult humour to keep adults and children entertained
* I think the director 'Luke Shepherd' is extremely talented at vocal timbre and vocal performances, this is now the 3rd production I've seen of his with impeccable vocal work (&Juliet, Starlight Express, Paddington) that is more towards the quality of NYC vocals than the West End typical so I don't believe it's a coincidence anymore. 

So we are getting moments such as: 

* INCREDIBLE sexy low sounding Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, who is the most likeable villain I've ever seen on stage. She almost steals the show and I kind of wish someone would write a spin off show for her where she is the star in this character. 
* Amy Ellen Richardson with a well acted switching between vulnerable/powerful vocals during an act one self reflection song using superheros as a metaphor 
* Bonnie Langford giving a second act show song and dance show stopper about how it's 'never too late'. Staging giving a nod to Rose's Turn. This is Angela Lansbury's London Baby June! It was overwhelming!!!
* The spoken and singing voice of Paddington James Hameed, sounds super calming, sweet, almost a little robotic and unemotional but in an intentional stylistic way you hear in children's entertainment, which is mirrored in very clean pure singing. A very big contrast to the vocal style of everyone else.

* The score is genuinely tuneful, fun and moving. The lyrics try to be Sondheim with a lot of internal rhymes - not anywhere near as real Sondheim but I still love the influence and attempt. It is a children's show so they are still simple, but there is an artistic attempt here

* Some of the songs, such as "Marmalade" are so annoyingly catchy you never be able to stop hearing them again. I imagine this score could come known into the popular culture like "Marry Poppins" - in fact I could imagine the music in general becoming known and appreciated. 

* If I had to give negatives, it is a bit long. It's a family musical so you have to keep an open mind of what that means in terms of style, humour, complexity etc... 

Feels like something the British can be very proud of and liven the mood up in the city a bit! It's the theatre at the Savoy Hotel (where Nicole in Sunset was), which feel super nice British classy. 

It would be a wonderful evening to any tourist. It's going to be want to seen by every family. Adults will like it too for the reasons above. This is going to be a big, smash, hit. People on 'the other board' saying the last time they remember something this hyped was Hamilton/Book of Mormon days. 

Updated On: 11/5/25 at 02:14 PM

[binau]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 2:38pm

They actually seem to have already released a studio recording of Victoria Hamilton-Barritt's song I was referring to earlier! Here it is!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyYB2WwAr24

Imagine a powerful diva villain moment owning the stage with these vocals!!