Paddington musical set for Broadway debut

Paddington: The Musical is set to make its Broadway debut next year, bringing the beloved bear's story to New York theatre audiences for the first time.

The production will launch at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 30 March 2027, with ATG Entertainment confirming the show will continue to run in London's West End alongside the US show.

The musical is inspired by the children's books by Michael Bond, which follow the adventures of Paddington, a small bear from Peru who is taken in by the Brown family.

He was found by the family at Paddington station, giving him his iconic name, and the stories have since been transformed into a variety of different forms of media, including three hit films.

McFly's Tom Fletcher composed the music for the production and described it as "the greatest adventure of my career".

He added: "The response from West End audiences of all ages has been unlike anything I've ever experienced.

"It's a great privilege to welcome New York audiences into Paddington's world of curiosity and I am absolutely thrilled at the opportunity for this very rare and special bear to be on Broadway."

The musical's writer, Jessica Swale, said: "As a city that breathes theatre, storytelling and imagination, {New York's} Broadway is the perfect place to celebrate this exuberant and heart-filled story.

"I can't wait. Let's just hope Paddington loves 'Big Apples' as much as he loves oranges."

The production won seven Olivier Awards for its run at the Savoy Theatre in the West End, tying the record for the most Oliviers won by a musical.

The marmalade-loving bear is portrayed by a puppet controlled by a two-person team: James Hameed, the remote puppeteer, who controls the expressions and delivers the voice, and Arti Shah, who embodies Paddington on stage.

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