Cast News: Paddington the Musical

29-09-26

A brand-new company is heading to Windsor Gardens as Paddington The Musical celebrates its first birthday and prepares for its second year in the West End.

Abbie Purvis and Hassan Taj will alternate as the Paddington on Stage Performer at the Savoy Theatre, with Sonny Monaghan making his West End debut as Young Man/Paddington, providing the bear’s voice and remote puppetry. The new company begins performances on 28 October 2026.

They take over as the musical continues a remarkable first year in London, during which it has collected seven Olivier Awards, nine WhatsOnStage Awards and the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical. A Broadway production is also due to open at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in March 2027.

The new cast also includes Linzi Hateley as Mrs Bird and Olivier Award winner Cassidy Janson as Millicent Clyde, alongside Sandra Marvin as Tanya. Haydn Oakley takes over as Mr Brown, with Charlotte Wakefield as Mrs Brown and Marc Pickering as Mr Curry. Samantha Bingley joins as Lady Sloane and Alex Crandon plays Hank the Pigeon, while Tarinn Callender continues as Grant and Teddy Kempner remains with the production as Mr Gruber. Poppy Houghton and Francesca Ratcliffe will alternate as Judy Brown, while Eddison Burch and Shayne Maphosa alternate as Tony. Charlie Dean, Arlo Drage, Oliver Goodman and Finn Leonard will share the role of Jonathan Brown. The wider company features Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Sarah Benbelaid, Millie Gubby, Helen Gulston, Daisy Hanna, Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez, Jacqueline Hughes, Kellianna Jay, Kwame Kandekore, Sam Lathwood, Andilé Mabhena, Kate Parr, Billy Roberts, Hugo Rolland, Eugene Shire, Vicki Lee Taylor and Kevin Tristan. Freya Rose will be the standby Paddington on Stage Performer.

The production is now booking at the Savoy Theatre until 13 February 2028, with the best ticket availability currently from summer 2027.

With music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale, Paddington The Musical is based on Michael Bond’s much-loved character and the 2014 STUDIOCANAL film. Luke Sheppard directs.  Its first year has proved a major awards success. The show’s seven Olivier wins included Best New Musical and Best Director for Sheppard, alongside awards for acting, set and costume design.  Its nine WhatsOnStage Awards equalled the overall record for the most wins in the awards’ history and set a new record for a new musical. The story follows the famous bear from Peru as he arrives in London searching for a home and finds himself taken in by the Brown family. His adventures in Windsor Gardens eventually put the entire family in danger when a mysterious villain sets her sights on Paddington. The creative team includes choreographer Ellen Kane, musical supervisor Matt Brind, scenic designer Tom Pye, costume designer Gabriella Slade and Paddington Bear designer Tahra Zafar. Neil Austin provides lighting design, Gareth Owen sound design and Ash J Woodward video design and animation.

The incoming company begins performances at the Savoy Theatre on 28 October 2026.

Visit the official site HERE