The new Paddington musical has made its West End debut and is winning hearts with its charming blend of music, dance, and puppetry. Critics are praising the show's clever staging, which transforms a traditional children's story into an immersive experience that appeals to both young and old.
The set design by Tom Pye is particularly noteworthy, featuring a stunning mosaic of images that evoke Paddington's homeland and the world of Mrs Brown's cartoons. This creative touch adds depth and visual interest to the production, while the puppetry, designed by Tahra Zafar, is simply genius. The bear, brought to life with state-of-the-art animatronics, is a true showstopper.
Jessica Swale's script, based on the original Paddington books and first film spin-off, is full of warmth and humour, capturing the spirit of kindness and tolerance that makes the character so beloved. The show's message about welcoming foreigners and asserting these values is timely and important, making it an uplifting experience for audiences.
The cast, led by James Hameed as Paddington's voice and Arti Shah inhabiting his furry form, deliver performances that are both endearing and impressive. Tom Edden shines as Mr Curry, the neighbourhood killjoy who eventually sees the error of his ways. Bonnie Langford steals the show as Mrs Bird, delivering a show-stopping number that brings the house down.
While some critics have noted that the plot is sometimes loose or meandering, no one can deny the magic of this production. The poppy songs by Tom Fletcher are catchy and memorable, but it's the emotional moments – particularly when Paddington first sets paw in London and finds his place with the Brown family – that will leave you moist-eyed.
Overall, the new Paddington musical is a must-see for families and music lovers alike. It's a heartwarming tribute to a beloved character, cleverly staged and performed with incredible skill.
The set design by Tom Pye is particularly noteworthy, featuring a stunning mosaic of images that evoke Paddington's homeland and the world of Mrs Brown's cartoons. This creative touch adds depth and visual interest to the production, while the puppetry, designed by Tahra Zafar, is simply genius. The bear, brought to life with state-of-the-art animatronics, is a true showstopper.
Jessica Swale's script, based on the original Paddington books and first film spin-off, is full of warmth and humour, capturing the spirit of kindness and tolerance that makes the character so beloved. The show's message about welcoming foreigners and asserting these values is timely and important, making it an uplifting experience for audiences.
The cast, led by James Hameed as Paddington's voice and Arti Shah inhabiting his furry form, deliver performances that are both endearing and impressive. Tom Edden shines as Mr Curry, the neighbourhood killjoy who eventually sees the error of his ways. Bonnie Langford steals the show as Mrs Bird, delivering a show-stopping number that brings the house down.
While some critics have noted that the plot is sometimes loose or meandering, no one can deny the magic of this production. The poppy songs by Tom Fletcher are catchy and memorable, but it's the emotional moments – particularly when Paddington first sets paw in London and finds his place with the Brown family – that will leave you moist-eyed.
Overall, the new Paddington musical is a must-see for families and music lovers alike. It's a heartwarming tribute to a beloved character, cleverly staged and performed with incredible skill.
I mean, who wouldn't want to welcome foreigners into their community? It's about time we learned from Mrs Brown's warm heart and taught our kids (and ourselves) to be kinder. The puppetry is insane - it's like they're using technology to show us that kindness can conquer all... even when Mr Curry thinks he's being a killjoy 
. I'm not surprised the show's doing so well - people are hungry for stories that promote love, empathy, and understanding. It's a breath of fresh air in this crazy world we live in 
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But what really impressed me was how they managed to bring the story to life without being too formulaic. Some people might say the plot gets a bit wonky, but honestly, that's part of its charm – it feels like a warm hug from Mrs Brown herself. 
And Bonnie Langford as Mrs Bird? Mind blown! 
I'm not even kidding when I say my eyes got a little misty during one of those emotional moments... the cast really brought the story to life in a way that's hard to resist. 
One thing though, would've been nice if they included some more diverse representation behind the scenes – still a minor quibble tho! 
I just saw the Paddington musical and it was SO adorable! The set design had me swooning, all those images of Peru were so vibrant and brought back memories of my own travels 
. The puppetry? Mind-blowing! I loved how the show highlighted the importance of kindness and welcoming people from different backgrounds - such a great message for our times 
The music was catchy and fun too, I found myself singing along to "Happy Birthday" 
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! I love how they've woven in themes of kindness, tolerance, and acceptance – it's really important stuff that we should be celebrating. The animation is insane btw, I had chills when Paddington first arrived in London 
. And Bonnie Langford's performance as Mrs Bird was pure magic 
. Can't wait to see the show again and experience that emotional moment for myself 
. It's great to see a musical that can bring families together like this – we could use more of that kind of positivity in our lives 
as mrs bird, i loved her performance!
and tom fletcher's songs are fire 
but what really gets me is the message of kindness & tolerance it's so important for our world to see more of this 
rainbow-colored houses on the stage, it's so Instagrammable 
. It feels like you're right there in London town with Paddington. 
. And Bonnie Langford as Mrs Bird? 
she steals the show! 
. You got your Paddington fans, your musical theater enthusiasts, your families with kids – everyone's coming together to experience something special. That's what politics should be about: finding common ground and making people feel like they belong 
Tom Pye's set design is 
The set design is straight fire 
. And that bear puppet? Mind-blowing! 
It's clear they really care about bringing this story to life in a way that appeals to both kids and adults. I loved how the script captured the essence of kindness and acceptance – it's such an important message, especially in today's world 
And the music is so catchy, especially that one song by Tom Fletcher 
I loved how it showed Paddington finding his place in London, it gave me all the feels 
I'd totally take my little ones to see this again 
The cast is perfection, especially Arti Shah as Paddington he's so cute and endearing 
What I love most about this show is how they bring out the heart of kindness and tolerance that Paddington embodies 
I swear, I've seen more efficient loading times at my grandma's birthday party.
. Overall, it's just too much for this critic's taste.
It sold over £1 million in its opening week, making it one of the biggest commercial successes of 2025 so far. 
Meanwhile, the puppetry is insane! 
The animatronic bear was made with cutting-edge technology that's worth a whopping $2 million. 
And fun fact: Jessica Swale's script was inspired by the original Paddington books, which have sold over 35 million copies worldwide! 