He originally stumbled out of “darkest Peru” before stealing the hearts of ursine lovers the world over.
Since that time this marmalade loving bear has had tea with the Queen, been the subject of dozens of stories and television programmes; and is now headed for the West End in London.
But…nobody has seen him!
The newest musical to hit the West End begins on November 1 and while the entire cast has been set and is currently rehearsing for the show…no one has seen the show’s star!
“Paddington: The Musical” is keeping all things Paddington in the suitcase so to speak…at least until the first night of previews on November 1. The show has not even announced who will be playing the character or how he will be played.
Humans involved with the show include Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, David Birch, Aimée Fisher, Jacqueline Hughes, Kellianna Jay, Sam Lathwood, Natasha Leaver, Katie Lee, Sunny Lee, Vicki Lee Taylor, Jáiden Lodge, Andilé Mabhena, Rose Mary O’Reilly, Ben Redfern, Hugo Rolland, Simon Shorten, Timi Akinyosade, Amy Booth-Steel, Tarinn Callender, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Adrian Der Gregorian, Tom Edden, Brenda Edwards, Amy Ellen Richardson, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Teddy Kempner, and Bonnie Langford.
The only clue to the show is that it has been adapted from the children’s books about the lovable bear by Michael Bond.
Second in popularity only the A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, Paddington is loved the world over. In fact, when the Chunnel between England and France was completed, the first passenger through was a stuffed Paddington Bear toy.