Paddington: The Musical is an absolute triumph that you need to see – our five-star review

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This summer, Rachel Zegler wowed audiences in London’s West End with her incredible performance in Evita. Her rendition of ‘Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina’ was so popular it often stopped traffic! But now, the spotlight has shifted – all eyes are on Paddington Bear.

Bringing the beloved story of Paddington: The Musical to the stage faced many challenges, especially figuring out how to realistically portray Paddington in front of a live audience. However, any worries quickly disappeared when Paddington was first revealed during a preview performance – a surprise so well-kept that the audience didn’t receive programs until intermission.

Luke Sheppard’s production of Paddington: The Musical, featuring music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale, is more than just a visually impressive show. It’s a truly wonderful musical that will keep you entertained – laughing, smiling, and maybe even shedding a few tears – for its entire two hours and forty minutes.

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The play truly comes alive with Paddington, brought to life by two talented performers. Arti Shah plays Paddington on stage, while James Hameed operates the puppet remotely from behind the scenes. Hameed also appears on stage with Paddington during seamless transitions at important moments in the story.

Both actors give wonderful performances that immediately make you love Paddington. Seeing him on stage is always a delight, no matter how many times you watch. Whether he’s creating playful chaos when he first arrives at the Brown’s house or looking dapper in a tiny dinner jacket—he has more costume changes than the characters in The Hunger Games play—it’s consistently enchanting.

The production around Paddington Station is as captivating as the musical itself. Impressive projections on the theatre walls seamlessly change the scenery for each song, especially during the moving ballad ‘The Explorer and the Bear’, which features a stunning Peruvian jungle backdrop. Even the smaller details are effective, like the creative way they portray Aunt Lucy in certain scenes.

The show also features classic musical dance numbers that really showcase the fantastic sets, like the incredibly catchy ‘Marmalade’ and the wonderfully upbeat ‘Rhythm of London’. Even though it’s a musical about a cute little bear, it’s a large-scale, visually spectacular production.

The book isn’t just visually appealing; it also has a strong story. Although it generally follows the plot of the first film—with references to the sequels—Jessica Swale’s adaptation adds more detail and gives the talented cast plenty of opportunities to shine.

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is fantastic as the villain Millicent Clyde. She instantly grabs your attention – and maybe even a little of your sympathy – starting with a shocking act and a quirky song about taxidermy in the standout number, ‘Pretty Little Dead Things’. While Paddington is always a clear favorite, Millicent could easily become your top pick in this musical, thanks to a remarkably talented cast where everyone shines.

Amy Booth-Steel is wonderfully funny as Lady Sloane, the leader of the Geographer’s Guild, and her unique way of saying “member” is particularly memorable. Tom Edden is also fantastic, consistently stealing the show as Mr. Curry. Even Ben Redfern manages to make you surprisingly invested in Hank, a pigeon with a cockney accent.

Look, Amy Ellen Richardson and Adrian Der Gregorian are both fantastic as Mr. and Mrs. Brown, seriously! But if I’m being honest, it’s the quirkier, more memorable side characters who really stick with you, even though Mr. Brown does get a pretty cool rock song towards the end of the first act.

Just like with the actors, you’ll probably have a favorite song. Some numbers seem to be included mostly to allow time for big changes to the stage, like during ‘The Geographer’s Guild.’ However, even those don’t really detract from the overall quality of Fletcher’s diverse and well-crafted music; there aren’t any truly weak songs in the bunch.

Just in case it wasn’t obvious, Paddington: The Musical is a fantastic show – easily the best new musical we’ve seen this year. The people who made it have truly honored the spirit of Paddington, just as Aunt Lucy would have hoped.

How to buy Paddington: The Musical tickets

You can now see Paddington: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre in London until October 25, 2026. Shows happen every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm, with matinee performances on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2pm.

Tickets are available now starting at £25 from ticket sellers like ATG Tickets, TodayTix, and LoveTheatre. You can also try the official website for a monthly lottery offering £35 tickets – even to sold-out performances – with a chance to win up to four tickets.

Virgin Experience Days also offers ticket bundles for groups of two, three, or four people, but these bundles can only be used for shows during the week.

Paddington: The Musical is running at the Savoy Theatre in London until 25 October 2026.

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2025-12-01 10:21