Paddington The Musical London Review
Paddington The Musical has been one of the hardest West End shows to get tickets for, so after waiting what felt like forever to finally see it, the big question was whether it would actually live up to the hype. For me, it absolutely did.
Paddington The Musical is funny, heartwarming, visually beautiful and technically one of the cleverest family productions I’ve seen in London. There were several moments where I genuinely forgot I was looking at a theatrical creation because Paddington felt so expressive and, weirdly, so real. It is also just a really lovely feel good show. There were loads of moments where I properly laughed out loud, but underneath all of the comedy it still has that warmth that makes Paddington so likeable in the first place. You leave the theatre happy.
Does Paddington The Musical Actually Work as a Musical?
This is something I always think about when a film is adapted into a musical. I probably pay far too much attention to whether the songs actually serve the story or whether they have simply been added because somebody has decided that the film now needs to be a musical.
I’ve watched adaptations before where the performances have been brilliant and the staging has been impressive, but the music just hasn’t worked for me. Paddington is completely different. It genuinely works as a musical.
The songs feel like part of the world of the show rather than something that keeps interrupting it. The music helps move the story forward, allows us to spend more time with the characters and creates some of the biggest theatrical moments of the production. It never felt like I was waiting for a song to finish so that we could get back to the story. That is quite a big compliment from me because this is one of the things that can completely make or break a movie adaptation on stage.
How Does Paddington Work on Stage?
This was probably the part I was most fascinated by. Paddington is not simply somebody standing inside a bear costume and performing the entire role. There is an on stage performer physically bringing Paddington to life, while another performer provides Paddington’s voice and remote puppetry.
When you think about how much coordination that requires, it makes the performance even more impressive. You have the physical movements happening on stage, Paddington’s reactions and expressions, his voice, comic timing and singing all needing to feel like they are coming from one character, and they do.
The two performances work together so seamlessly that after a while you stop thinking about the mechanics behind it. You just see Paddington. That was probably one of the biggest achievements of the whole production for me. There were honestly a couple of moments where he felt real. Obviously my brain knows there is a performer inside Paddington, but his little reactions, the timing of his movements and how expressive his face is almost make you forget. It is incredibly clever.
Paddington Is SO Expressive
The actual Paddington creation is brilliant. It would have been very easy for a character like this to look slightly stiff on stage, particularly because audiences already know exactly what Paddington should look, sound and behave like from the films. Instead, he has so much personality.
Sometimes it is the tiniest movement or reaction that gets the biggest laugh. His body language is instantly recognisable as Paddington, and when you combine that physical performance with the voice, singing and facial movements, the illusion becomes incredibly convincing.
This is where the theatrical side of the production really impressed me. The technology can be as clever as you like, but if the performance underneath it does not work, the audience will still see the mechanics. Here, everything comes together.
The Set and Staging Are Beautiful
The staging is another massive part of why Paddington The Musical works. The set is beautiful, but more importantly it is functional. There is a difference.
A stage can look incredible in photographs but still feel quite static during a production. Paddington’s set constantly helps tell the story. Scenes transform, spaces appear and disappear and the production moves between locations without constantly killing the momentum of the show.
There is so much going on technically, but it never feels as though the production is trying to show you how clever it is. The technical elements support what is happening rather than becoming the entire point of it. The lighting, movement, choreography, special effects and scene transitions all work together to create something that feels huge and cinematic while still very much feeling like live theatre.
And I love that. You are getting some of the scale that people love about the Paddington films, but you are also getting all of those little things that can only happen when something is being performed live in front of you.
Is Paddington The Musical Funny?
YES. And not just funny for children. There were so many moments where I genuinely laughed out loud.
There is a lot of physical comedy, Paddington obviously gets himself into plenty of situations and there are loads of smaller jokes and reactions throughout the show. It is one of those family shows where I don’t think adults will spend the entire time just watching their children enjoy themselves. There is enough going on for everyone.
More importantly, the humour never takes away from the heart of the story. It still feels warm. It still feels like Paddington.
How Similar Is Paddington The Musical to the Paddington Films?
If you love the Paddington films, particularly the first film, there is going to be plenty that feels familiar. The musical is based on Michael Bond’s Paddington characters, with its story inspired by the first Paddington film from 2014.
You will recognise Paddington arriving in London from Peru, the Brown family, Windsor Gardens and plenty of familiar characters and story elements. But it isn’t simply the movie copied onto a stage, and I am really glad it isn’t.
There are moments that have clearly been developed specifically for theatre, along with original musical numbers, larger ensemble scenes and sequences that take advantage of having a live audience. So you still get the comfort and familiarity of a story you already know, but it doesn’t feel pointless because you aren’t simply watching actors recreate the film scene by scene.
Our Front Row Seats at Paddington The Musical
We sat in Row BB, seats 14 and 15, which is right at the front. And I mean RIGHT at the front.
We are no strangers to front row West End seats. We have previously watched Wicked from the front and The Lion King from the front, so I already knew there would probably be a few compromises that come with sitting so close to the stage.
The stage at the Savoy Theatre is quite high from Row BB, so that is definitely something to keep in mind. You can see the conductor and occasionally you catch a little glimpse of the organised chaos happening around the edges of the production.
Personally, it didn’t bother me at all. The theatre nerd in me actually quite likes seeing tiny glimpses of how everything is working. More importantly, it didn’t take away from how magical the actual production felt. I would happily sit there again.
Is the Front Row Good for Paddington The Musical?
I really enjoyed it, but I don’t think the front row will be everybody’s perfect seat. Being that close means you are completely immersed in everything happening on stage. You can see the expressions, costumes and performances ridiculously well, and having Paddington performing just a few feet away from you is very cool.
However, the stage is high. There are also moments where the show gets quite loud when you are sitting that close. If you or your child are particularly sensitive to sound, I would consider bringing earplugs or ear defenders.
There are also theatrical effects involving mist, and when you are in the front row, you can REALLY feel it. That was probably the only thing I personally wasn’t keen on, but I also knew when I booked the front row that sitting that close to a big West End production was going to mean experiencing the effects much more strongly. For me, the positives massively outweighed that.
How We Paid £65 for Front Row Paddington The Musical Tickets
Now for the bargain. We paid £65 EACH for our front row Paddington The Musical tickets, and we got free ice cream.
I booked the tickets through Mastercard Priceless, which had a special Paddington The Musical ticket experience available for Mastercard cardholders. The saving was ridiculous. I have personally seen seats only a couple of rows behind where we were sitting being sold for more than £250.
Unfortunately, the Mastercard Priceless Paddington ticket releases we used have now ended, so I don’t want anybody reading this thinking they can still go and book the same deal. BUT there are still ways to try and see Paddington without spending hundreds of pounds.
How to Get Cheap Paddington The Musical Tickets
The biggest thing I would say is book early, and when I say early, I mean wayyyyy in advance. Paddington has been incredibly popular, and booking far ahead gives you a much better chance of finding the lower priced ticket bands before they disappear.
Cheaper seats may mean sitting considerably higher up, but that doesn’t automatically mean you will have a bad view. I have sat all over West End theatres over the years and price alone doesn’t always tell you how much you are going to enjoy a seat.
And then there is the lottery.
How Does the £35 Paddington The Musical Lottery Work?
This is probably the first thing I would try if the normal ticket prices are out of budget. Paddington The Musical has an official £35 ticket lottery.
The draw takes place on the first Wednesday of each month for performances during the following month. If you are selected, you receive a unique link allowing you to purchase up to four tickets for £35 each. You have 24 hours to use the link and seats are available on a first come first served basis.
For £35, I would absolutely be entering. You obviously cannot guarantee you will win, but considering what some Paddington tickets are selling for, it is definitely worth trying.
Is Paddington The Musical Suitable for Children?
The official age recommendation for Paddington The Musical is 6+. Children under three cannot be admitted and guests aged 16 or under need to sit next to an accompanying adult. Every person attending needs their own ticket.
Personally, I think the 6+ recommendation makes sense. There is loads for children to enjoy, but this isn’t a tiny children’s theatre production. It is a full West End musical with a long running time, loud moments, theatrical effects and a proper storyline.
I would definitely take your individual child into consideration, particularly if they struggle sitting through longer performances or are sensitive to noise.
How Long Is Paddington The Musical?
Paddington The Musical runs for approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including an interval, so it is definitely worth factoring that into your plans if you are taking younger children.
For us, it didn’t feel excessively long because there is so much happening, but nearly three hours inside a theatre is still something parents should know before booking.
Are Booster Seats Available at Paddington The Musical?
Yes. Booster seats are available for children at the Savoy Theatre on a first come first served basis, and ours was completely free.
I wanted to mention this because I have genuinely been to theatres where you have to pay for a booster seat. Personally, I think if a child needs a booster seat to properly see a show they already have a ticket for, it should be included, so I was really happy to see that here.
I would arrive with enough time to ask for one because there is no guarantee there will be enough for everybody.
The Savoy Theatre Is Nut Free?
This really stood out to me. During our visit there were signs saying that it was a nut free venue, and when we went through security I was actually asked whether I had any nuts with me.
I have a nut allergy, so I definitely wasn’t secretly carrying a packet around with me, but I was genuinely impressed. In all my years of going to the theatre, I cannot remember regularly seeing signs like this or being specifically asked at security whether I was carrying nuts. I wish more venues would implement something similar.
Paddington Afternoon Tea Near the Savoy Theatre
If you want to turn your theatre trip into a full Paddington day in London, there are actually Paddington afternoon tea experiences nearby.
Brigit’s Bakery in Covent Garden has a Paddington themed afternoon tea that can be booked without doing the bus tour. It includes Paddington themed sandwiches and sweet treats, scones and, of course, a marmalade sandwich. It also works really well before seeing Paddington The Musical because Covent Garden is close to the Savoy Theatre.
There is also the Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, which combines a Paddington themed afternoon tea with sightseeing around London on a Routemaster bus. There are Paddington themed activities and entertainment onboard, and guests receive a Paddington travel cup to take home.
However, one really important allergy warning. Despite the nut precautions we experienced at the theatre, Brigit’s Bakery states that it cannot cater for nut free or peanut free afternoon teas, so please keep that in mind if you are planning to combine the two experiences.
Is Paddington The Musical Worth It?
For me, yes. What I appreciate most is that Paddington The Musical doesn’t rely on the fact that everybody already loves Paddington. It is actually a very good piece of theatre.
The staging is clever, the set is beautiful, the comedy works, the songs feel like they belong there and the production understands how to take something cinematic and turn it into something that genuinely works on a stage.
But Paddington himself is still the standout. The fact that an on stage performer, voice performer, remote puppetry and all of the technical elements can come together so seamlessly that I occasionally forgot I was looking at a theatrical character says everything.
Paddington feels alive. I laughed loads, I loved being right at the front and I completely understand why tickets have been so difficult to get.
Very, very worth the wait.
