FIRST LISTEN TO PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL
EXPLORER & THE BEAR
RELEASED AS A SINGLE BY DECCA RECORDS
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY TOM FLETCHER
With the company currently in rehearsals, producers Sonia Friedman Productions, STUDIOCANAL and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music UK today announce the release of Explorer & the Bear, written and performed by the show’s composer Tom Fletcher. This is the very first song to be released to the public from the score of more than 18 brand-new original songs written for PADDINGTON The Musical. The single will be available from Decca Records this Friday, 26 September.
Tom Fletcher said today, “This is such an exciting day for us all on PADDINGTON The Musical – to finally share our first song with you all! It’s been an amazing process making this musical with a team of incredible creatives, and it’s both nerve wracking and thrilling in equal measure to begin to put it out into the world. We hope you love it as much as we do.”
Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley commented, “It’s a privilege to be able to share Explorer & the Bear – the very first song we are releasing from PADDINGTON The Musical. It’s truly wonderful to have Tom perform the vocals for this track, which in the show is sung by Paddington himself. This release marks the beginning of a series of songs we’ll be sharing in the months ahead, as we build towards the official opening at the Savoy Theatre at the end of November.”
In the show, Explorer & the Bear is sung by Paddington as he searches for the Explorer, who had once promised Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo that they would always find a home in London if ever they needed one.
The accompanying video to the single was shot in multiple recording studio locations including Abbey Road, where Tom recorded both this song and others upcoming from the musical, as well as in the rehearsal room with the cast and company of the musical.
Adapted from the much-loved books written by Michael Bond, and the award-winning films by STUDIOCANAL, with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, book by Jessica Swale and direction by Luke Sheppard, PADDINGTON The Musical opens at the Savoy Theatre on Sunday, 30 November, with previews from Saturday, 1 November, and is currently booking until 25 May 2026.
Sonia Friedman Productions, STUDIOCANAL and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music UK present
PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY TOM FLETCHER BOOK BY JESSICA SWALE
DIRECTED BY LUKE SHEPPARD
Based on A Bear Called Paddington written by Michael Bond and the film ‘PADDINGTON’, by special arrangement with STUDIOCANAL
Cast:Timi Akinyosade (Tony), Delilah Bennett-Cardy (Judy Brown), Amy Booth-Steel (Lady Sloane), Tarinn Callender (Grant), Adrian Der Gregorian (Mr. Brown), Tom Edden (Mr Curry), Brenda Edwards (Tanya), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Millicent Clyde), Teddy Kempner (Mr Gruber), Bonnie Langford (Mrs Bird), Amy Ellen Richardson (Mrs. Brown), and in the role of Jonathan Brown Joseph Bramley, Leo Collon, Stevie Hare and Jasper Rowse, are Esme Bacalla-Hayes, David Birch, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Aimée Fisher, Jacqueline Hughes, Kellianna Jay, Sam Lathwood, Natasha Leaver, Katie Lee, Sunny Lee, Vicki Lee Taylor, Jáiden Lodge, Andilé Mabhena, Rose Mary O’Reilly, Ben Redfern, Hugo Rolland and Simon Shorten
Matt Brind (Musical Supervisor, Orchestrations and Arrangements), Ellen Kane (Choreographer), Tom Pye (Scenic Designer), Gabriella Slade (Costume Designer), Paddington Bear Designer: To be revealed, Neil Austin (Lighting Designer), Gareth Owen (Sound Designer), Ash J Woodward (Video Designer and Animation), Campbell Young Associates (Hair, Wig & Make-Up Designer), Majid Adin (Illustration and additional Animation), Laura Bangay (Musical Director), Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting (Casting Director), and Nick Hockaday (Young Persons’ Casting Director), Javier Marzan (Physical Comedy Consultant, Tobago and D-Lime (Additional Music Consultants)
A rather wonderful adventure is about to begin…
Hold on to your hats for the world premiere of PADDINGTON The Musical in London’s West End.
When a small, lost bear from Peru arrives in London in search of a new home, a chance encounter with the Brown family leads him to the wonderful world of Windsor Gardens.
But London isn’t all afternoon teas and friendly faces – and even the happiest families have their cracks beneath the surface. So when a mysterious and vengeful villain sets her sights on Paddington, the Browns embark on a thrilling rescue mission, realising they need this special bear as much as he needs them.
Packed with show-stopping songs, dazzling choreography, mischief and mayhem at every turn – and of course, marmalade sandwiches – PADDINGTON The Musical is based on the iconic characters from Michael Bond’s books, with a story inspired by the award-winning 2014 film.
Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington was published in 1958 by Collins, later Harper Collins – the first of 29 Paddington books he was to write, with the final one Paddington at St. Paul’s, published posthumously in 2018. The books have sold over 35 million copies worldwide.
Paddington has been adapted for television several times – first by the BBC in 1976; and most recently adapted by STUDIOCANAL who have produced three Emmy Award-winning series of The Adventures of Paddington. Paddington has also enjoyed three successful big-screen outings, all produced and developed by STUDIOCANAL – Paddington released in 2014, Paddington 2 in 2017, and Paddington in Peru in 2024, enjoying critical and commercial acclaim becoming the biggest independent family franchise of all time.
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Listings
Paddington The Musical
SAVOY THEATRE
Savoy Court, Strand, London WC2R 0ET
Box Office: 0844 871 7687 / www.paddingtonthemusical.com
Previews from £15
Post Opening Performance from £25
PREVIEW SCHEDULE:
Saturday 1 Nov 7pm
Monday 3 Nov 7pm
Tuesday 4 Nov 7pm
Thursday 6 Nov 7pm
Friday 7 Nov 7pm
Saturday 8 Nov 7pm
Monday 10 Nov 7pm
Tuesday 11 Nov 7pm
Thursday 13 Nov 7pm
Friday 14 Nov 7pm
Saturday 15 Nov 7pm
Monday 17 Nov 7pm
Tuesday 18 Nov 7pm
Thursday 20 Nov 7pm
Friday 21 Nov 7pm
Saturday 22 Nov 2pm & 7pm
Monday 24 Nov 7pm
Wednesday 26 Nov 7pm
Thursday 27 Nov 7pm
Friday 28 Nov 7pm
Saturday 29 Nov 2pm & 7pm
Sunday 30 Nov 5pm – OPENING PERFORMANCE
REGULAR PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Monday 7pm
Wednesday 7pm
Thursday 2pm & 7pm
Friday 7pm
Saturday 2pm & 7pm
Sunday 2pm
Please check the website for the Christmas/New Year schedule.
Recommended for ages 6+