‘Paddington’ Musical to World Premiere on London’s West End in November

Britain’s favorite marmalade-loving bear will be hitting London’s West End later this year.

“Paddington the Musical,” first announced in 2023, is taking shape, with the StudioCanal-backed stage show now set to make its home at the Savoy Theater and open on Nov. 1. Priority booking opens May 13, with public booking launching on May 15.

The musical is based on Michael Bond’s first Paddington book, “A Bear Called Paddington,” which was first published in 1958 and also formed the basis for the hit 2014 feature that kickstarted the successful franchise (which recently returned with the third film, “Paddington in Peru”).

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As previously announced, “Paddington the Musical” comes from Sonia Friedman Productions, StudioCanal and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music U.K. Luke Sheppard (“& Juliet,” “The Little Big Things”) directs, with original music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, founding member of Brit band McFly, and a script by Olivier Award winner Jessica Swale (“Nell Gwynn,” “Blue Stockings”)

“It’s such a privilege to be telling the story of such a beloved cultural icon,” said Swale. “Paddington is so much more than a fictional character; this special bear has come to represent hope, kindness and acceptance, so it’s never felt like a more apt time to bring this story to the stage. And with such a dream team! Tom’s songs are extraordinary, earworms on a first listen, Luke is the most masterful director, and our producers are so incredibly passionate and dedicated, it really is a great honour to be on this adventure with them all.”

Added Shepherd: “Discovering how to bring Paddington’s story to the stage continues to be an enormous privilege – with Jessica Swale and Tom Fletcher, it’s been thrilling to see this show grow into something very special, packing an incredible new score and a heart wrenching script into a marmalade filled suitcase.”

“Paddington the Musical” marks the latest expansion of the Paddington brand by StudioCanal, which in 2016 bought the Paddington and Company Limited, which owned all the intellectual property rights outside of publishing. Since the deal, alongside continuing the film franchise, it has launched the successful pre-school animated series “The Adventures of Paddington” and The Paddington Bear Experience in London. Meanwhile, Paddington is reported to appear at the U.K.’s recently announced Universal theme park, although this is unlikely to open until 2031.

“We are delighted that this brilliant team will be bringing Paddington to the West End stage with us,” said Anna Marsh, CEO of StudioCanal, deputy CEO of Canal+ and chief content officer of Canal+. “Their collective gift in bringing ‘Paddington The Musical’ to life with such heart, humour, wonder and vivid imagination has been a privilege to witness and we simply cannot wait for audiences to discover the magic of this production. We are constantly thinking of innovative ways to continue Paddington’s journey while honouring Michael Bond’s legacy and his invitation to ‘please look after this bear’.”