Paddington The Musical announces new cast at the Savoy Theatre from 28 October

Paddington The Musical has announced the new cast that will take it into its second year at the Savoy Theatre, with performances from 28 October 2026. Abbie Purvis and Hassan Taj will share the title role, and the new line-up includes Cassidy Janson as Millicent Clyde, Marc Pickering as Mr Curry and Charlotte Wakefield as Mrs Brown. Tickets on British Theatre are available for performances from 12 December: see Paddington The Musical tickets.

The news came from the show’s producing team of Sonia Friedman, StudioCanal and Eliza Lumley, on behalf of Universal Music UK, as the show celebrates its birthday in the West End. It arrives at the Savoy fresh from a record-breaking spell at the awards, having won seven Olivier Awards and nine WhatsOnStage Awards.

Who plays Paddington?

As in the show’s opening year, the bear is played by two performers sharing the job. Abbie Purvis and Hassan Taj will alternate as the Paddington on Stage Performer, while Sonny Monaghan plays Young Man/Paddington, providing the voice and remote puppetry. All three are making their West End debuts in the role, according to Theatre Weekly.

It is a remarkable piece of stagecraft: a single performer inside the costume on stage, and another giving the bear his voice and facial expressions from elsewhere in the building. The result is a Paddington who looks and sounds as though he has stepped straight out of the books and films.

The new cast in full

Joining the three Paddingtons are Samantha Bingley as Lady Sloane, Alex Crandon as Hank the Pigeon, Linzi Hateley as Mrs Bird, Cassidy Janson as Millicent Clyde, Sandra Marvin as Tanya, Haydn Oakley as Mr Brown, Marc Pickering as Mr Curry and Charlotte Wakefield as Mrs Brown.

Fans of the film will know the characters well. Millicent Clyde is the glamorous, ruthless taxidermist who wants the bear for her museum, Mr Curry is the Browns’ nosy, grumbling neighbour, and Mrs Bird is the family’s sharp-eyed housekeeper, who sees far more than she lets on. Janson, Pickering and Hateley take on those roles from 28 October, with Oakley and Wakefield as the bear’s adoptive parents.

Two familiar faces stay with the show: Tarinn Callender reprises his role as Grant, and Teddy Kempner returns as the kindly antiques dealer Mr Gruber.

The Brown youngsters are shared between several young performers. Poppy Houghton and Francesca Ratcliffe alternate as Judy Brown, Eddison Burch and Shayne Maphosa alternate as Tony, and Charlie Dean, Arlo Drage, Oliver Goodman and Finn Leonard share the role of Jonathan Brown.

The ensemble is made up of 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.

Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley said the year so far had been “an absolute privilege”, adding: “Shows like this don’t come along very often. We know this wonderful company will make the show their own and continue to create magic on stage at the Savoy Theatre.”

About the show

Based on Michael Bond’s much-loved book A Bear Called Paddington and the Paddington film, the musical has music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale, and is directed by Luke Sheppard. It follows the small bear from darkest Peru as he arrives at a London railway station with nothing but a suitcase, a label round his neck and a weakness for marmalade, and is taken in by the Brown family.

Sheppard’s creative team includes Matt Brind as musical supervisor, orchestrator and arranger, Ellen Kane as choreographer, Tom Pye as scenic designer and Gabriella Slade as costume designer. You can read more about the show’s awards haul in our report on Paddington The Musical winning seven Olivier Awards.

The show opened at the Savoy Theatre in late 2025 to glowing reviews, including five stars from WhatsOnStage, and it has become a firm favourite among West End family outings. It is warm, very funny and full of the kindness and politeness that have made the bear a favourite for generations, with plenty of jokes pitched at the grown-ups too.

Booking and planning your trip

The new cast begins on 28 October, and tickets on British Theatre are currently available for performances from 12 December 2026 onwards, into 2027. The Christmas holidays and school half-terms are traditionally the busiest weeks for family shows in the West End, so it is worth booking early if you have particular dates in mind. You can compare dates and seats on the Paddington The Musical show page.

The Savoy Theatre is on Savoy Court, just off the Strand, London WC2R 0ET. The nearest Underground stations are Charing Cross and Embankment, both a short walk away, and Charing Cross is also the closest mainline station. Covent Garden and the Victoria Embankment Gardens are close by, making it easy to combine the show with a day out in central London. Find out more about the venue on our Savoy Theatre page.

Whether you are taking young fans for a birthday treat or going for your own sake, the second year looks set to be just as delightful as the last. Book Paddington The Musical tickets and choose your date.