Im in Londons new Paddington musical – 1 moment | UK News

From humble beginnings in deepest Peru to having tea with the Queen at her Platinum Jubilee, a sure bear holds a particular place in our nation’s hearts. He could conceal marmalade sandwiches under his hat but he is also been retaining a blockbuster show up his sleeve…

Based on the beloved books by Michael Bond and the 2014 movie, with music and lyrics by McFly popstar Tom Fletcher, Paddington the Musical is set to carry the bear’s origin story to the stage in spectacular fashion when it opens at London’s Savoy Theatre tonight.

The show follows the lovable chap’s bewildered arrival and his antics with the Brown household, lovable antiques vendor Mr Gruber and grumpy neighbour Mr Curry, plus the villainous taxidermist Millicent Clyde. But scriptwriter Jessica Swale also guarantees “lots of juicy new material and people”.

Bonnie Langford performs the Brown’s housekeeper Mrs Bird and tells me she loves hiding in the wings every night time to watch the moment when Paddington first seems, with Arti Shah respiration life into Paddington inside the costume with the long-lasting crimson hat and blue duffel coat, while James Hameed gives his voice and distant-managed facial expressions.

“It’s like a rock star, people just scream,” Bonnie grins. “They put one hand up to their face, then start to tear up, often the adults even more than the kids. It’s beautiful.”

For over 20 years, Tom’s been used to all that touring the world with his band but he tells me he’s loving being on the other side this time. “On my goodness, now I’m the screaming fan,” he laughs. “I cry harder than anyone when he steps onto stage. Being sat in the audience and seeing everyone else laughing and crying, I feel so lucky.”

Theatre can often seem stuffy, but everyone involved is unabashedly proud of the emotional impact the show has been having in previews.

“I only know how to make theatre with my heart, shows that will move people,” director Luke Shepperd tells me. “I always think about when my family would bring me and my brother to see one show a year and it was a really big deal, a family event. It really mattered to us.”

Bonnie also believes there’s something unique about this particular show and its furry leading man.

“There’s something terribly magical about him and really disarming. Your cynicism and all your angst drop away at something so honest and pure, at the wide-eyed innocence and wonder. It gives you permission to laugh, cry and cheer.”

This might all be quite cloying and twee, but Bond’s creation always rises above that.

“It’s very telling and also very funny,” Bonnie says. “Paddington disarms everyone by showing us the way we hold on to things as adults is pretty silly. The lovely part is, none of it is shaming or blaming. He’s not judging people.”

Yet everybody concerned is deeply conscious they are going to be going through judgement from audiences and followers of the books – particularly if they get something improper. “It was a big alternative but one that got here with great duty,” admits the show’s director Luke Shepperd. (*1*) he says. “So to return to the thing that I love feels really special. And to be on a project like this is beyond anything I could have dreamed. It means the world to me.”

He has composed over 18 unique songs and admits it has been the best problem of his life but also “pure joy” flexing his musical muscle mass.

“The essence of Paddington is in the stories, there is always so much heart and amazing characters,” he says. “Every time I was trying to find lyrics I would open the books and the answer was always there on the page.

“What’s so superb about the show is that it’s about so many different people, it’s so various. Each of those characters allowed us to explore different musical kinds. So if you’re writing for Mr Gruber, it’s utterly different musical language than Mr Curry or for Paddington.”

That core theme from the books of London as a welcoming melting pot for so many different lives, cultures and stories is deeply important to James.

“This show is about celebrating distinction,” he says, “but also about bringing people together in one building who might need different outlooks. I believe about bringing kindness and pleasure. I make theatre that is inclusive and at its beating coronary heart gives a imaginative and prescient of a world that I would like to live in.”

For me, that world always includes Bonnie doing the splits, I tease her.

“There’s something wildly amusing about the splits,” she grins, “I seem to do it in everything now. One Christmas, when mum and dad were still alive, I looked around and we all find it very comfortable to sit with one leg straight up in the air. It’s normal for us but I remember thinking, ‘This is weird, actually.”

With so many friends and family who have worked their whole lives on stage, how does she feel about celebrity ‘stunt casting’?

“It’s a very aggressive, troublesome world,” says Bonnie, “but as long as they’ll do the job… We need people who can promote tickets. It’s no good being in the best saved secret in city.

“In a way, Paddington’s our trump card. He brings people in, but it’s not just him there. We give them a sensational show with so much more on top of that. It’s pure magic.”

Paddington The Musical is presently reserving at The Savoy Theatre until October 2026; go to paddingtonthemusical.com