Paddington: The Musical is coming to Australia - and yes, you will cry because it is so damn good

I thought about that old saying, “if you’re not crying, you’re dead inside”, while sat in the audience of Paddington: The Musical, tears streaming down my face.

And it wasn’t because of the exorbitant amount of money I paid for the ticket - £268 aka $515 for a dress circle seat during a weekday matinee no less – which would be enough to make anyone weep.

Everyone is going to have a different decision matrix as to whether something was “worth it”, but as the story unfolded onstage and everyone at The Savoy Theatre was engrossed in the incredible craft and talent that was being deployed to tell it, all thoughts of the ticket price had flitted far away.

All that existed was that iconic bear, dressed in that blue duffel coat and the tatty red hat, and all the big-hearted emotions swirling inside and around you. It’s an extraordinary show that metaphorically hugs you.

Yes, you’ll cry, but you’ll also laugh, you’ll tap your toes, and you’ll walk out convinced that kindness and empathy are the greatest gifts.

You’ll think nothing of shelling out more money for Paddington merch, anything with that gorgeous little bear’s face on it, and cue up its soundtrack, especially the song The Rhythm of London, on repeat.

So, yes, that ticket price was absolutely worth it.

Paddington: The Musical is one of the hottest tickets in the UK capital, and when I bought that single available ticket for the week I was in London in late August, the show was ostensibly sold out until February.

It has already won seven Olivier Awards including best new musical.

Now, Australians can experience all that for themselves without flying 24 hours to the UK, with confirmation Paddington: The Musical will open in Sydney for a 10-week limited engagement in September 2027.

The show opened in London in November 2025 and will early next year transfer to Broadway.

The production is based on Michael Bond’s 1958 book A Bear Called Paddington and the plot follows the 2014 film adaptation.

It follows the adventures of Paddington, a marmalade-loving bear who travels from his home of the deep jungles of Peru to London, in search of an explorer his family once met in South America.

When he arrives at Paddington station, he meets the Browns, a British family who takes him in for a day or two, despite the protestations of dad Henry. They soon become Paddington’s family, but only after some shenanigans involving the explorer’s taxidermist daughter, out to restore what she believes is her rightful legacy.

There is something wonderful about the fact that Paddington, an undisputed icon of British culture, is, at its core, an immigrant story about a young man who is accepted and embraced by his adopted home.

The fantastical story comes alive onstage with extravagant sets, a large ensemble and swing cast, high energy choreography and an innovative and effective way of portraying Paddington himself.

The character is actually played by two actors – in the London show, they are Arti Shah (the principal performer) who is inside a sophisticated bear suit who embodies all of Paddington’s physical actions including dancing, and James Hameed, who provides the voice performance and also mechanically puppets the Paddington suit’s facial expressions.

Shah and Hameed shared the best actor in a musical Olivier Award.

The music and lyrics are by Tom Fletcher, the book by Jessica Swale and direction by Luke Sheppard. The cast for the Australian show has not yet been announced.

Karen Jankel, Bond’s daughter, wrote in the program’s introduction, “I know (my father) would have been enormously proud to see his bear brought to life in this way – singing, dancing and continuing to remind us all of the importance of compassion, decency, and the belief that even little acts of kindness can make a big difference”.