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.
Paddington’s story has been adapted for the stage by Jessica Swale with such care, it feels impossible to imagine any way this could have been done better. All of the heart and warmth you would associate with Paddington are all here in great supply, along with some fresh ideas that feel fitting for the theatre. Making theatre itself a small part of the story is an inspired touch, leading to a delightful show within a show routine, while a smattering of jokes designed to tickle adults will fly over the heads of younger audience members without the risk of them asking what it means, but ensures this is a show for everybody.
There are gleeful stagey in-jokes: Edden correctly boasts that he’s a “triple threat”, and Langford reminds us she was in Cats. That’s all of a piece with a production that wears its theatricality proudly: this is the Paddington we love, but reborn in a distinctly new medium. It invites a live audience in to become part of the story. It’s also a musical with a hero, and a message, that feels more important than ever to emulate – “Kindness isn’t complicated”. I tip my hat to Paddington: the small bear is a big hit.
| 2025 | West End |
West End |
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