Overview
- Previews began November 1 at the Savoy Theatre, accompanied by a first-look video and photos of the stage bear.
- Paddington is performed by two artists: Arti Shah on stage inside the suit and James Hameed off stage providing the voice and remote facial puppetry.
- Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley extended the West End run to October 25, 2026.
- The bear was designed by Tahra Zafar with an aesthetic inspired by Peggy Fortnum’s illustrations and a deliberately tactile, partly low‑tech approach.
- The production by Tom Fletcher, Jessica Swale and director Luke Sheppard prompted strong audience reactions in early previews, and opening night is listed as November 30 in production materials despite minor discrepancies across outlets.