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!! 

[Art Isn’t Easy]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 3:06pm

This is so exciting to hear!! Is the basic plot taken from the first film? Or does it go in a different direction

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 4:02pm

I'm glad this one was such a success! I'll admit I haven't loved Tom Fletcher's previous scores (though McFly's early albums are guilty pleasures). The meme of "Paddington is a flawless masterpiece" has grown to outrageous size over the last decade, and luckily the musical doesn't seem likely to tarnish that reputation.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 5:32pm

Marmalade Is Magic Ingredient In London’s ‘Paddington: The Musical’

https://deadline.com/2025/11/paddington-the-musical-london-previews-1236608023/

[WindyNewYorker]

Posted: 11/5/25 at 5:42pm

Would you mind sharing the orchestra made up? Thank you.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 11/20/25 at 11:20am

Cast recording set coming March 2026

"Rhythm of London" video released:

 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/23/25 at 5:20am

How Paddington became a living, breathing, sneezing stage performer

https://www.ft.com/content/c6f68e53-56ca-4fb0-af75-a78b910dcd9b

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 2:13pm

Mad About The Bear: An Afternoon With Paddington, The New Toast Of The West End

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/paddington-bear-west-end

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 11/29/25 at 8:15am

https://youtu.be/wO-4_BjoIig?si=f4ybscw_jANh-Yy6

"One of Us" music video released 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/29/25 at 9:03am

maybe Broadway gets two U.K. imports next season with Paddington & Benjamin Button?

[MezzA101]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 7:14am

How Does the Bear Work and Who Is Inside It?

https://variety.com/2025/theater/global/paddington-the-musical-how-does-bear-work-who-is-inside-1236595312

[MezzA101]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 10:48am

He’s Only 4 Feet Tall, but Paddington Is London’s Biggest New Musical Star

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/arts/paddington-bear-musical.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9U8.vRUS.ABqy_Id6Mzdn&smid=nytcore-android-share

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 3:43pm

This is among the best musicals of the last 20 years.  I struggled thinking what even came close (Hamilton, Kimberly, the Band's Visit...) but it was a real challenge. This is one of those shows that you walk in and don't stop grinning from ear to ear until the very end.  The second Paddington hits the stage you know what you're in for...and its a lot of tears of joy.

Mind you, the music is not groundbreaking, the choreography is just perfectly fine, and it could still use about 15 minutes of editing (who fought to keep that explorer song in act II?).   But these are small quibbles.  The production is absolutely gorgeous, the plot quite functional and fluid, and the performances all very good (I say this as someone who generally believes the Brits can't execute musicals the way we can....don't hate me).  I hope the production fights to keep a complete transfer of the cast because they caught lightening in a bottle. 

And Paddington...Paddington, Paddington, Paddington.  Such a charmer and such a joy to see live on stage.  He made my jaded and misanthropic heart grow three sizes.   

While I saw the first Paddington movie just before seeing this, I had no real interest in the IP and certainly have no long-term connection with Paddington.  You can walk into this show off the street and still be amazed.  I completely disagree with those that say that this is too British: this yank had no issue with either the language or references.  I had no issue with it, nor did my husband who's less of an Anglophile than I am.

This is a GD hit and Sonia Friedman is the taste-maker we need.  I'd be shocked if a Broadway run wasn't announced immediately after it sweeps the Oliviers.  

Updated On: 1/5/26 at 03:43 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 4:02pm

Everyone says it's a fantastic show. I hope it comes to the US, and I hope it tours.

But the question I keep having is... is this a Matilda or a King Kong? In other words, is it a show that will find a way to succeed in other venues with lower production values (i.e.: no animatronic bear), or is the robot bear the entire raison d'etre here? When Paddington is a young Gaten Matarazzo wearing a hat with bear ears, is there still a show there?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 4:02pm

To anyone who has seen this: Was this a show full of families with small children? Would you consider it a kid's show? I am just trying to get a feel for it and the audience makeup. Thank you.

Updated On: 1/5/26 at 04:02 PM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 4:17pm

Replying to both Sutton and Darquegk:

I never saw King Kong (dodged a bullet I think...) but this is very much in the vain of Matilda, but much more accessible.  I think this could tour quite easily, Paddington's face is animatronic but there is an actor inside the costume. I really see no reason why this couldn't tour to amazing success.  With that said, it is a primary reason for the success.  Not just Paddington, but the response other actors have to him (which is entirely understandable).  The character himself is a coup de théâtre.

 
Many many families in the audience...and many many singles, gay couples (we're always ahead of the curb...), and a lot of everyday millennials.  I had difficulty thinking about who I *wouldn't* recommend this show to.  Personally, I'm a married elder millennial attorney....and I loved every moment of this.  

Updated On: 1/5/26 at 04:17 PM