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/