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Paddington The Musical announces its full (human) cast
There's no word yet on who's wearing the duffle coat, but the rest of Paddington The Musical has now been cast
The Savoy Theatre will soon be home to a small bear with a very large fanbase. Paddington The Musical begins previews on 1 November, opening officially on 30 November, and today the production confirmed almost its entire line-up of performers. The key word being “almost” – the furry star himself remains a mystery until the first preview, when producers promise to reveal not just the actor inside the duffle coat but also the shadowy “Bear Designer” and “Bear Creative team” responsible for getting him stage-ready.
What we do know: Tom Fletcher has written the songs, Jessica Swale has handled the book, and Luke Sheppard directs. The principal roles were announced earlier in the summer – Timi Akinyosade, Amy Booth-Steel, Tarinn Callender, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Adrian Der Gregorian, Tom Edden, Brenda Edwards, Amy Ellen Richardson, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Teddy Kempner, and Bonnie Langford are all locked in, with the role of Jonathan Brown split between Joseph Bramley, Leo Collon, Stevie Hare and Jasper Rowse. Joining them are 17 new names including Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Jacqueline Hughes and Simon Shorten.
Behind the scenes, Sheppard has assembled a stacked creative roster: Matt Brind supervises the music and orchestrations, Ellen Kane choreographs, Tom Pye designs the set, Gabriella Slade handles costumes, Neil Austin lights everything and Gareth Owen manages sound. Ash J Woodward supplies video design and animation, while Campbell Young Associates oversee hair and wigs – a critical department when your leading man is technically a bear.
The plot follows Bond’s original premise: a small Peruvian bear who ends up in London with the Brown family, only for a villain to jeopardise his newfound domestic bliss. The show borrows from the 2014 film but brings new songs, fresh choreography and of course the mandatory marmalade sandwiches.
Paddington has been beloved since 1958, when Michael Bond first introduced him. More than 35 million books have been sold since then, with multiple television versions and three films – the latest, Paddington In Peru, landed in cinemas in 2024. The musical is currently booking at the Savoy until 25 May 2026, giving audiences plenty of time to find out which actor is brave enough to take on the most scrutinised piece of casting since Daniel Craig ordered his first shaken martini.
Check back here for tickets to Paddington The Musical
