Paddington: The Musical

West End (2025)

In April 2025, it was announced that Paddington: The Musical would receive its world premiere in the West End at the Savoy Theatre from 1 November 2025.^[10] On 21 August 2025, the initial casting and creative team were announced, with the exception of Paddington, which was to be revealed during the first preview.^[11] During the first preview, it was announced that Arti Shah and James Hameed play the role of Paddington with Shah as the on-stage performer (with Abbie Purvis and Ali Sarebani as alternates and Hassan Taj as an understudy) with Hameed performing as the voice and controlling Paddington's facial expressions, whilst also playing the role of Young Man.^[12] It officially opened on 30 November 2025.^[13] The show made history at the WhatsOnStage Awards, receiving fifteen nominations (winning nine including Best New Musical) and received eleven nominations at the Laurence Olivier Awards (winning seven including three acting awards for Hameed & Shah, Edden and Hamilton-Barritt and Best New Musical).

Act One

Mr Gruber opens his shop of curiosities, and a young man enters, fascinated by a stuffed bear. Mr Gruber recounts the story behind the bear, and its perilous journey from Peru ("Mr Gruber's Curiosities"). Paddington arrives in London and looks for a home as the Browns arrive home from a camping trip. Mrs Brown sees Paddington and offers to house him for the night while they look for someone to look after him ("I've Arrived"). However, Mr Curry forbids them from taking the bear home, citing the Taxi Driver's Code as his source. Jonathan corrects him, and Mr Curry allows them to take Paddington home ("The Taxi Driver's Code"). Upon arriving home, Paddington meets their lodger Mrs Bird and begins enthusiastically exploring the house, destroying nearly everything he touches. The Browns try to stop him ("Don't Touch That"). Paddington reveals an explorer (the one who gave his uncle his iconic red hat) promised him a home, but he doesn't know his name. Mrs Brown takes Paddington up to the attic for bed and shows him her comic book drawings, expressing her desire for the family to go on more adventures together ("One Page at a Time").

At the Natural History Museum, Millicent Clyde adds a chinchilla to her taxidermy collection, while lamenting over the almost-complete collection. She is only missing a Peruvian Bear. Her assistant Grant reveals a Peruvian Bear has moved into Windsor Gardens ("Pretty Little Dead Things").

While preparing to visit Mr Gruber's shop to identify the red hat's origins, Mrs Bird gives Paddington Mr Brown's old coat. Judy's boyfriend Tony and his mum Tanya introduce Paddington to the wonders of London life ("The Rhythm of London"). Meanwhile, Millicent investigates Windsor Gardens and Mr Curry, instantly smitten, agrees to help her capture Paddington.

Mr Gruber identifies the hat as originating at the Geographer's Guild, and reassures Paddington that his new life will take some time to adjust to. The Browns and Paddington arrive at the Geographers Guild and are greeted by Lady Sloane, who is extremely rude. Paddington gives her a hard stare and she changes her mind, allowing him to visit the archives. Millicent, revealed to be the explorer's daughter, and Grant also visit the Guild in search of the Peruvian archive ("Hard Stare"). After discovering the explorer's full name is Montgomery Clyde, Paddington imagines his new life living with the explorer ("The Explorer and the Bear").

The Browns and Paddington visit the Savoy for Mr Brown's work do, where he hopes to be promoted. Millicent, Grant, and Mr Curry infiltrate the event disguised as staff. Mr Brown sings a rock song dedicated to Mary, impressing everyone, but Paddington is baited with Marmalade by Millicent, and causes an explosion after tripping over the machinery, ruining the event and Mr Brown's chances ("Risky Business"). Millicent tells Paddington she is the explorer's daughter and will welcome him over whenever he wants.

Mr Brown loudly proclaims Paddington is the worst thing that ever happened to the family. Mrs Brown insists Paddington has helped the family, not harmed it ("One of Us"). Paddington leaves a note and runs away to Millicent's address, where she is waiting to stuff him ("The Explorer and the Bear (Reprise)")

Act Two

Millicent has Mr Curry distract Paddington whilst she leaves to prepare to her work tools. Paddington shares his sandwich with Mr Curry and introduces him to Marmalade ("Marmalade"), and Mr Curry is moved by his kindness. Millicent returns to bring Paddington to the Natural History Museum, causing Mr Curry to realize her true intentions. She places a shock collar on Mr Curry to force him to continue to help.

At Windsor Gardens, the Brown Family discovers that Mrs Brown has left in search of Paddington. Mr Brown refuses to risk their safety and sends the children to bed. Mrs Bird comforts Mr Brown with the story of her deceased husband, and reassures him that love is difficult, but worth it ("Worth The Work"); Mr Brown wakes the children to find Mrs Brown. Mrs Brown, with the help of Mr Gruber, Tony, and Tanya, spreads missing posters around London ("Where's Paddington"). Mr Curry finds a poster and tells the Brown Family of Millicent's plans.

At the Natural History Museum, Millicent informs Paddington of her father's death and her true intentions. She calls Lady Sloane and summons the Geographer's Guild before preparing her equipment, declaring that she will surpass her father ("Everything You Never Were"). Paddington sees her mistreating Grant and comforts him, but Grant dismisses Paddington and leaves to keep watch.

The Brown Family and Mrs Bird arrive at the Museum, but are deterred by Grant. Mrs Bird distracts Grant by inspiring him to follow his dreams ("It's Never Too Late") and he shuts off the power to stall Millicent. A despondent Paddington imagines himself back in the jungle with Aunt Lucy ("Aunt Lucy's Prayer"), and his cries are heard by Judy who communicates to him via bear. Judy and Mrs Brown mend their relationship, whilst Jonathan helps Mr Brown overcome his fears.

Lady Sloane and the Geographer's Guild gloat about their practice of stealing artefacts from other countries for Britain ("The Geographer's Guild") as they head to the museum.

The Brown Family reunite and resolve to save Paddington as a unit, meanwhile Millicent prepares to stuff Paddington ("Unstoppable"). She realizes the Browns' presence and decides to throw Paddington off the roof, cursing the memory of her father ("Everything You Never Were (Reprise)"). The Brown Family confront Millicent, supported by Mrs Bird who has returned with Tony, Tanya, Grant, Mr Curry, and Mr Gruber ("Worth The Work (Reprise)"). Mr Brown's emotional declaration of love for Paddington prompts Millicent to release him. However, she then changes her mind and shoots Paddington with her crossbow. Paddington's pigeon friends attack Millicent and push her off the roof. The Geographer's Guild arrive but are deterred after Paddington points out the issues of their organisation. The injured Millicent is placed in Mr Curry's custody as a Pigeon poop-scooper.

Mr Gruber finishes his story to the young man ("Mr Gruber's Shop (Reprise)"). Tony then invites Mr Gruber to a party, where everyone celebrates Paddington's presence in London ("Missing Beat"). The Brown Family receive a letter from Aunt Lucy, who thanks them for giving her nephew a loving home ("Dear Aunt Lucy").

Recordings

Prior to the musical commencing previews the song "The Explorer and the Bear", performed by Tom Fletcher,^[15] and "Pretty Little Dead Things", performed by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt were released by Decca Records.^[16]

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios the cast recording was due to be released in March 2026, by Decca Records but was delayed.^[7] The album was ultimately released digitally on 10 April 2026,^[17] with a physical vinyl and CD release in May.^[18]

Track listing