PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL TO PREMIERE
AT THE SAVOY THEATRE IN LONDON’S WEST END
PRIORITY BOOKING OPENS ON 13 MAY, WITH PUBLIC BOOKING ON 15 MAY
Sonia Friedman Productions, STUDIOCANAL and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music UK today announce that PADDINGTON The Musical will receive its world premiere this Autumn – opening at the Savoy Theatre on 1 November.
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, priority booking will open on the 13 May, with public on sale on 15 May. Full cast, creative team and performance schedule will be announced shortly.
Tom Fletcher “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.”
Jessica Swale: “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.”
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.”
Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley: “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.”
Anna Marsh CEO of STUDIOCANAL, Deputy CEO of CANAL+ & Chief Content Officer of CANAL+: “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’.”
Audiences are invited to sign up for more information and priority booking for PADDINGTON The Musical at www.paddingtonthemusical.com.
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, voiced by Michael Hordern; and most recently adapted by STUDIOCANAL. Paddington has enjoyed three successful big-screen outings, all by STUDIOCANALandHeyday Films – Paddington released in 2014, Paddington 2 in 2017, and Paddington in Peru in 2024, enjoying critical and commercial acclaim.
Instagram, Facebook and TikTok: paddingtonthemusical
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
Director: Luke Sheppard
Based on
A Bear Called Paddington written by Michael Bond and by special arrangement with STUDIOCANAL
A rather wonderful adventure is about to begin.
The world premiere of PADDINGTON The Musical lands in London’s West End this autumn.
Bringing one of Britain’s best-loved characters to life on stage, this unmissable major new production at the Savoy Theatre is jam-packed with irresistible songs, dazzling choreography – and of course, marmalade sandwiches.
It’s Paddington as you’ve never seen him before.
When a lost, small 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 cream teas and friendly faces – and even the happiest families have their cracks beneath the surface. So when Paddington’s life is suddenly in peril, the Browns must decide just how far they’re willing to go — and what they’re willing to risk — to give this special bear a home.
Based on the iconic characters from Michael Bond’s books and the award-winning films, PADDINGTON The Musical is directed by Luke Sheppard, with original music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and book by Olivier Award winner Jessica Swale.
Please look after this bear. Thank you.
Tom Fletcher is the founding member of Brit Award-winning band McFLY, and a number-one, bestselling children’s author.
Writing music has always been Tom’s first passion, he has penned ten #1 singles and his band McFLY, who were founded in 2003, remain one of the most successful and cherished bands in the UK. McFLY are the youngest band to chart a debut album at #1 – taking the record from The Beatles – have recorded 7 studio albums and sold over 10 million albums. Tom is also a coach on The Voice UK, alongside band mate Danny Jones.
In 2016 Tom published his first novel The Christmasaurus which was the biggest debut middle-grade novel that year and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. He has written over 30 children’s books, which have been translated into 45 languages and have sold over 10 million copies. Three of these chart- topping novels, The Christmasaurus, The Creakers and Space Band are published alongside accompanying soundtrack albums, written and performed by Tom, which are available to stream throughout the story, taking the reader on a magical musical journey.
For younger readers, Tom writes the number one, best-selling picture book series Who’s in Your Book? and he is one half of the author duo behind The Dinosaur that Pooped series with bandmate Dougie Poynter. Both book series have been adapted into popular stage productions that are currently touring the UK, featuring music written by Tom. The Creakers theatre production also completed a sold-out run in the West End in 2024 and will be touring in the near future.
While continuing to work on multiple exciting projects, Tom will also be embarking on the sold-out, 35 date arena tour BUSTED vs McFLY across the UK at the end of 2025.
Jessica Swale is an Olivier Award-winning filmmaker, writer and director. As a playwright, her first play Blue Stockings, won her an Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright nomination and is now on the GCSE drama syllabus. Her second, Nell Gwynn, won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy after transferring from the Globe to the West End, starring Gemma Arterton. She is currently penning the screenplay for Working Title. Her much-performed theatre adaptations include Sense and Sensibility, Far from the Madding Crowd, The Jungle Book and The Secret Garden.
In film, her romantic comedy Merv, starring Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox, will be released later this year with MGM/ Lightworks and Amazon. Prior to that, her first short, the comedy Leading Lady Parts (starring Felicity Jones, Florence Pugh, Emilia Clarke, Tom Hiddleston and Gemma Chan) became a viral hit with over 25 million views and her debut feature film, Summerland (starring Gemma Arterton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw) was released in 2020 by Lionsgate, Embankment & BFI. She also wrote the screenplay for the Horrible Histories Movie starring Emilia Jones.
She has since directed episodes of Ten Percent for BRON/Headline starring Dominic West, Himesh Patel and Emma Corrin. Her latest projects include a new adaptation for Netflix and Lookout Point and a re-working of The Taming of the Shrew for Working Title.
Luke Sheppard’s theatre credits include & Juliet (West End, Broadway, Toronto, Hamburg, Australia), Starlight Express (Troubadour), Just For One Day (West End, The Old Vic, Toronto), The Little Big Things (West End), In Dreams (Leeds Playhouse/Toronto), My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) (West End, Turbine Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe), What’s New Pussycat? (Birmingham Rep), Rent, Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre), The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾: The Musical (West End, Menier Chocolate Factory and Leicester Curve), In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre and Southwark Playhouse), Billionaire Boy (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton), Peter and the Starcatcher (Royal & Derngate), Night Must Fall (Salisbury Playhouse & UK Tour), Oliver! (Watermill Theatre), and Working, Casa Valentina, and Next Fall (Southwark Playhouse).
Listings
Paddington The Musical
SAVOY THEATRE
Savoy Court, Strand, London WC2R 0ET
Box Office: 0844 871 7687 / www.paddingtonthemusical.com
Previews from £15
Post press night from £25
Recommended for ages 6+