Hassan Taj, Sonny Monaghan and Abbie Purvis join the cast of Paddington The Musical. Picture: Hugo Glendinning
A new cast will take to the Savoy Theatre stage in late October as the multi Olivier Award-winning and record-breaking Paddington The Musical celebrates its first birthday in the West End.
From 28 October, Abbie Purvis (Peter Pan, Eastwood Park Theatre, Waldo’s Circus of Magic and Terror, Bristol Old Vic/UK tour) and Hassan Taj (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) will make their West End debuts alternating the role of Paddington onstage performer with Sonny Monaghan (Dear Evan Hansen, UK and Asia tour, In Between, The Other Palace) making his West End debut as Young Man/Paddington (voice and remote puppetry).
They will be joined by Samantha Bingley (To Wong Foo, Hope Mill Theatre), Beauty and the Beast, London Palladium/UK tour) as Lady Sloane), Tarinn Callender (Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Chichester Festival Theatre) continuing as Grant, Alex Crandon (Dick Whittington, Corn Exchange, Newbury, Cinderella, Salisbury Playhouse) as Hank the Pigeon, Linzi Hateley (London Road, National Theatre, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace) as Mrs Bird, Cassidy Janson (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Millicent Clyde), Teddy Kempner (Girl From the North Country, The Old Vic/UK tour, Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre) reprising his role as Mr Gruber, Sandra Marvin (Waitress, Adelphi Theatre/UK and Ireland tour, & Juliet, UK and Ireland tour) as Tanya, Haydn Oakley (Anything Goes, Barbican Theatre/UK tour, The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre) as Mr Brown, Marc Pickering (The Elephant Man, Trafalgar Studios 2, Zorro! The Musical, Charing Cross Theatre) as Mr Curry and Charlotte Wakefield (Spring Awakening, Lyric Hammersmith/Novello Theatre, The Soundof Music, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Mrs Brown.
Poppy Houghton and Francesca Ratcliffe will alternate the role of Judy Brown; Eddison Burch and Shayne Maphosa will share the role of Tony; with Charlie Dean, Arlo Drage, Oliver Goodman and Finn Leonard alternating the role of Jonathan Brown.
The company is completed by 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 is the Standby Paddington onstage performer.
Announcing the new cast, Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley said: “It is an absolute privilege bringing Paddington The Musical to the stage with our partners from StudioCanal, and as we celebrate our first year in the West End, it’s a joy to announce this brand-new company. Shows like this don’t come along very often, and we’re continually in awe of how audiences embrace the production, and take this much-loved bear to their hearts. We know this wonderful company will make the show their own and continue to create magic on stage at the Savoy Theatre.”
Developed by Sonia Friedman Productions, StudioCanal and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music UK, the world premiere production is currently booking up to 13 February 2028.
Adapted from Michael Bond’s much-loved tales of the little bear from ‘deepest darkest Peru’, along with the award-winning films by StudioCanal and Heyday Films, the musical which features music and lyrics by McFly’s Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale is directed by Luke Sheppard.
The creative team also includes: Matt Brind (musical supervisor, orchestrations and arrangements), Ellen Kane (choreographer), Tom Pye (scenic designer), Gabriella Slade (costume designer), Neil Austin (lighting designer), Gareth Owen (sound designer), Ash J Woodward (video designer and animation), Campbell Young Associates (hair, wig and make-up designer), Majid Adin (illustration and additional animation), Laura Bangay (musical director), Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting (casting director), Nick Hockaday (young persons’ casting director), Javier Marzan (physical comedy consultant) and Tobago and D-Lime (additional music consultants).
Paddington The Musical won seven Olivier Awards, equalling the number of wins for any musical. The production’s Oliviers’ tally included Best New Musical, Best Director, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Best Set Design and Best Costume Design.
The production also received nine WhatsOnStage Awards equalling the record for the most wins in WhatsOnStage Award history – and the most for any new musical. The production also won the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical this year. A new production will open on Broadway in March 2027 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
Bond’s first book A Bear Called Paddington was published on 13 October 1958 by William Collins & Sons (now Harper Collins). Since its first publication, the Paddington Books series have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over 40 different languages, including Latin.
Prize draw for Paddington dress rehearsal…
Sonia Friedman Productions, Eliza Lumley Productions and children’s creative learning charity The Institute of Imagination are offering an exclusive chance to see the new cast of Paddington The Musical in its final full dress rehearsal at the Savoy Theatre on 28 October.
A prize draw on Crowdfunder with entry tickets costing £10 will produce 130 winners who will each receive a pair of tickets to watch the production from the Grand Circle. Every entry will raise money for the Institute of Imagination’s work with children. To enter the draw, click here.
A free postal entry route is also available. The draw closes at 9pm on 11 October, and winners will be drawn on 12 October under independent oversight. Full terms and conditions are available on the Crowdfunder page.
Commenting on the Paddington The Musical partnership, Martin Allen Morales, the chief executive of the Institute of Imagination, said: “I came to Britain from Peru when I was 11, having been forced to leave my home. Growing up in England, people often called me Paddington. At first I didn’t know who he was, but once I discovered his story, I felt a real affinity with that little bear from Peru.
“Years later, I was fortunate to meet Michael Bond and his family. His family have since become supporters of the Institute of Imagination. It feels like a wonderful full circle moment that, thanks to Sonia Friedman Productions, Eliza Lumley Productions and StudioCanal, we can offer this extraordinary experience while supporting our work with children.”
The Institute of Imagination is a children’s charity that helps children facing disadvantage develop their imagination, creativity and agency through play, making and creative learning. Proceeds from the prize draw will support this vital work with children, families, schools and communities across the UK.
Angela Thomas
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