Paddington the Musical Extends West End Run Through 2028 After Record‑Tying Olivier Sweep
The beloved bear’s stage adventure will stay at the Savoy until June 2028, bolstered by a historic awards haul.
What a triumph for the marmalade‑loving bear!
“Paddington the Musical” will remain at the Savoy Theatre through June 25, 2028, as it nears its first anniversary in London.
The extension follows a record‑tying seven wins at the 2026 Olivier Awards, among them Best New Musical, Best Director for Luke Sheppard, and Best Actor in a Musical for James Hameed and Arti Shah, who shared the role of Paddington.
The production also captured nine WhatsOnStage Awards, matching the ceremony’s all‑time win record, and earned the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical.
Based on Michael Bond’s 1958 book “A Bear Called Paddington” and the 2014 StudioCanal film, the musical follows the Peruvian bear’s arrival in London, his adoption by the Brown family, and a mysterious villain targeting their new guest.
Music and lyrics are by Tom Fletcher of McFly, the book is by Jessica Swale, and direction is by Luke Sheppard, known for “& Juliet.”
The staging of Paddington is a marvel.
Paddington is realized through a full‑body bear costume combined with remote puppetry. Original performers Arti Shah and James Hameed spent three years developing the character, with Shah performing onstage and Hameed providing the voice and controlling facial expressions.
A fresh West End cast took the stage on October 28. Abbie Purvis and Hassan Taj now alternate as the onstage bear, while Sonny Monaghan supplies the voice and puppetry. The new ensemble also features Haydn Oakley and Charlotte Wakefield as Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Cassidy Janson as Millicent Clyde, and Linzi Hateley as Mrs. Bird.
International expansion is already underway. A Broadway run will begin previews on March 30, 2027 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, with an official opening on April 18. Another production is slated for Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in September 2027.
“Paddington the Musical” is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, StudioCanal, and Eliza Lumley Productions for Universal Music UK. Tickets for the extended London run are now on sale, with the best availability starting in summer 2027.
