After the success of the films cemented Paddington’s status as most beloved bear of all time, mediocrity would have been enough to sell the Savoy Theatre out for a couple of years, but what’s so clear here is the integrity and ingenuity that the creative team has brought instead. Luke Sheppard – the director behind Starlight Express, &Juliet and other hits – creates a show that’s constantly full of motion, so tight and seamless despite all the many moving parts. In just the first twenty minutes we get smoke, fire, explosions, collapsing furniture, rain, and whipped cream. It’s a multimillion pound piece of theatre that feels warm and fun and intimate, with no opportunity missed for a bit of extra silliness or a burst of theatricality.
Paddington The Musical: ‘Silliness, naughtiness and unmitigated joy’
