Get your marmalade sandwiches ready because Paddington The Musical is hitting the West End stage this autumn, with its world premiere at the Savoy Theatre in London.
Paddington The Musical is playing at the Savoy Theatre in London from 1 November 2025.
The new musical is based on the much loved Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond, and the hugely successful films.
Paddington The Musical has a book by Olivier Award winner Jessica Swale (Nell Gwynn, Summerland), and music and lyrics by McFly’s Tom Fletcher (The Creakers).
The show will be directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, Starlight Express, Just For One Day). It is also understood that choreography will be by Ellen Kane (Groundhog Day The Musical; Ballet Shoes; Dear England), and musical supervision by Matthew Brind (Come Alive!), with further creatives to be announced.
It hasn’t yet been revealed how the creators of the show will represent Paddington in the theatre. Jessica Swale told the BBC, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, he’s a bear! He’s travelling from Peru to be a special part of our show! I can’t give away our secrets. One of the things I’m most excited about for this show is the character of Paddington.”
Swale also said that the producers were “really experimenting with every possible way that we could tell the bear’s story in the best way, and the magic that they’ve found in how they do it. Every single time I see Paddington for the first time, it makes me cry. I think he’s completely magic, and to me he’s very real. But I don’t think audiences will be disappointed. It’s a wonderful, theatrical version of how to tell this story.”
Even Paddington’s favourite food, marmalade, will be featured in the show – and that includes physically on stage in a spectacular way!
Paddington is produced by Sonia Friedman (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Book of Mormon), Anna Marsh on behalf of STUDIOCANAL, and Eliza Lumley on behalf of Universal Music UK.
Casting for the show is to be announced.
Michael Bond’s first book A Bear Called Paddington was published on 13 October 1958 by William Collins & Sons (now Harper Collins). Since its first publication, the Paddington series of books has sold more than thirty-five million copies worldwide and have been translated into over forty different languages, including Latin.
Paddington has been adapted for television several times, first by the BBC in 1976, voiced by Michael Hordern; and most recently adapted by STUDIOCANAL and Heyday Films into three successful Paddington movies: Paddington, Paddington 2, and Paddington in Peru. Paddington in Peru was recently released on Netflix.
Composer Tom Fletcher said in a statement: “It’s an honour to be entrusted to bring the story of Paddington to life on stage with the very best of creative collaborators in Jessica, Luke, and our producers Sonia and Eliza. This unique and special bear is at the very heart of our nation, and I’m aware of the awesome responsibility we all have in taking on his story. It’s beyond exciting, and an absolute dream come true – we look forward to welcoming you to join us at the Savoy this Autumn.”
Director Luke Sheppard: “Discovering how to bring Paddington’s story to the stage continues to be an enormous privilege – with Jessica Swale and Tom Fletcher, it’s been thrilling to see this show grow into something very special, packing an incredible new score and a heart wrenching script into a marmalade filled suitcase. This is Paddington as you’ve never seen him before, bought to life by a team celebrating all of the magic and wonder of live theatre. Alongside our producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley, who look after this bear with the greatest care, we’ve been dreaming up big things for Paddington and can’t wait to welcome him to this iconic venue later this year.”
Writer Jessica Swale said: “It’s such a privilege to be telling the story of this beloved cultural icon. Paddington is so much more than a fictional character; this special bear has come to represent hope, kindness and acceptance, so it’s never felt like a more apt time to bring this story to the stage. And with such a dream team! Tom’s songs are extraordinary, earworms on a first listen, Luke is the most masterful director, and our producers are so incredibly passionate and dedicated, it really is a great honour to be on this adventure with them all. I can’t wait to share this beautiful, funny and heartwarming story.”
Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley said:: “It’s a true honour to be giving Paddington a new home at the Savoy Theatre with this glorious and deliciously funny new musical from Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale. We’re thrilled to be embarking on this special journey with our incredible team, led by Luke Sheppard, to bring the world of this much-loved bear, the Brown family, and many more of Michael Bond’s beloved characters to life. Paddington holds a unique and lasting place in so many hearts. He represents so much that is good in the world, including kindness, warmth and decency—and it’s an immense privilege to look after this bear as we bring him to the West End stage.”
STUDIOCANAL’S Anna Marsh said: “We are delighted that this brilliant team will be bringing Paddington to the West End stage with us. Their collective gift in bringing Paddington The Musical to life with such heart, humour, wonder and vivid imagination has been a privilege to witness and we simply cannot wait for audiences to discover the magic of this production. We are constantly thinking of innovative ways to continue Paddington’s journey while honouring Michael Bond’s legacy and his invitation to ‘please look after this bear’.”
Paddington The Musical is running at the Savoy Theatre in London from 1 November 2025.
Currently playing at the Savoy Theatre in London is Mean Girls The Musical, until 8 June 2025. Coming up at the Savoy Theatre is Burlesque The Musical, from 10 July to 6 September 2025.
Director Luke Sheppard’s latest projects include Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical, which opens at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London on 15 May 2025. His new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express continues to play at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London; and his production of hit musical & Juliet is playing its final dates on a UK tour.
Tickets for Paddington go on sale on 15 May. Sign-up below to get a ticket reminder.
More about tickets to Paddington The Musical at the Savoy Theatre London
Savoy Theatre, London
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