The perfect family show
As soon as you walk in you feel something, there is a buzz of anticipation, the set warmly overwhelms while the projected graphics slink off the stage and along the walls to bring the Savoy Theatre to life. There are just a few children at this evening performance because this is Paddington the Musical and his fans stretch right back to 1958, and it showed in the audience age range, writes Michael Holland.
The show opens in Mr Gruber’s shop of curiosities before transforming into a hectic station with people too busy to stop. Through the crowd emerges the bear the nation has come to love who is greeted by the house with a big, soft ‘Awwww’. He is lost and homeless. Awwww, again.
Much against the will of Henry Brown, his wife and children adopt the bear, naming him Paddington after the station and Brown after them. The Browns’ relationship is rocky and as it worsens over the coming days, Henry blames Paddington, forcing him to quietly leave the family home to make his own way in London Town in his quest to find the explorer who came to his Peruvian jungle many years before.
Meanwhile, Millicent Clyde, head of the Natural History Museum, needs a Peruvian Bear for her collection of stuffed endangered species! She is also the daughter of the explorer who Paddington seeks.
There is a lot to take in but with the help of bouncy Tom Fletcher songs to give the narrative legs it is not hard to follow who the Baddies and Goodies are among a huge cast where pretty much nobody is pushed upstage under the direction of Luke Sheppard.
And, yes, the Baddies do get to have more fun, although almost everyone gets a real chance to shine in this production: Bonnie Langford makes the most of Mrs Bird, the lodger the Browns can’t dislodge – even getting to do the splits and high-kicks along with hitting high notes; nerdy Mr Brown gets to rock out with his electric guitar to win the affections of his wife back; Amy Booth-Steel has us in hysterics as Chair of the Geographers Guild, rtubbornly refusing anything to anyone if they’re not a member; and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is evil incarnate as she plots to get Paddington killed off and stuffed. What a malicious joy she was. But I thought it was Tom Edden as jobsworth Mr Curry the money-grabbing Cabbie who is a stickler for rules at the beginning but ends up a soft-hearted saviour who should take the marmalade sandwich home under his cap.
But even up against a cheeky Cockney pigeon called Hank, Paddington Bear will always be the star. Made real by Arti Shah inside and James Hameed remotely providing the voice and face movements, he drew the warmest audience reactions. We gave him the love he craved and made him feel wanted forever.
Paddington the Musical is a homage to London and its people. It is the perfect family show. It’s a winner.
Savoy Theatre until October 25th 2026.
Booking and full details: https://paddingtonthemusical.com/
