Australia, prepare to start guarding your marmalade reserves: the award-winning Paddington: The Musical is on its way.
The acclaimed theatre production, which has been running in London’s West End since ۲۰۲۵, will land in Sydney in September ۲۰۲۷, where it will be performed at the Capitol Theatre for ۱۰ weeks.
Dates in any other Australian cities have yet to be announced, as has the cast.
Sydney is a long way from London’s Paddington Station, where the clumsy but lovable bear from Peru is taken in by the Brown family and wins over the whole neighbourhood.
The show, based on Michael Bond’s ۱۹۵۸ book A Bear Called Paddington as well as the hit film adaptations over the last decade, has received many five-star reviews, including in the Guardian.
Much has been made of the state-of-the-art animatronic puppet used to portray Paddington, which was designed by costume designer Tahra Zafar. In London, the bear is played by a duo: James Hameed provides the voice and is the remote puppeteer, while Arti Shah performs wearing the furry costume.
Paddington: The Musical won seven Olivier awards earlier this year, tying for the record for the most wins for any musical, including best new musical, a joint best actor in a musical award for Hameed and Shah, and best set design. It also won a record nine WhatsOnStage awards and the Critics’ Circle award for best new musical.
Paddington: The Musical will continue to be performed in London until at least ۲۰۲۸ and is opening on Broadway in April ۲۰۲۷.
In a statement, the show’s producers, Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley, said they were “thrilled” the show would go to Sydney due to the city’s “extraordinary appetite for world-class musical theatre and the affection Australians have long held for Paddington”.
after newsletter promotion
“From the outset, we have wanted Paddington The Musical to open only in cities where it can be produced with the same ambition, care and theatrical scale as in London. Paddington’s journey across the world in search of a new home – and his discovery that home can be found through kindness, acceptance and a sense of belonging – feels particularly resonant for Australian audiences.”
The show’s composer, Tom Fletcher, said it had been “the greatest adventure of my career”.
“I’ve made many happy memories writing, recording and touring Australia over the years and I am so excited to have the opportunity to bring our show to Sydney and share this very rare and special bear with Australian audiences,” he added.
