PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL to open in Sydney in September 2027
Photo credit: Johan Persson
It has been announced that the record-breaking, smash hit, seven-time Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical PADDINGTON The Musical will open in Sydney, Australia in September 2027.
Based on the beloved “A Bear Called Paddington” written by Michael Bond and the award-winning STUDIOCANAL film ‘PADDINGTON’, PADDINGTON The Musical features music and lyrics by Olivier Award winner Tom Fletcher, a book by Olivier Award winner Jessica Swale, and direction by Olivier Award winner Luke Sheppard.
PADDINGTON The Musical is the most awarded new musical in the history of London's West End. The show won seven 2026 Olivier Awards, tying the record for the highest number of wins for any musical in Olivier Award history – including winning Best New Musical, Best Director for Luke Sheppard, Best Set Design for Tom Pye and Ash J Woodward, and Best Costume Design for Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar – the latter, who designed the bear.
The production also received a record nine WhatsOnStage Awards – the most for any new musical – including winning Best New Musical, and Best Direction for Luke Sheppard. The production also recently won the Critics' Circle Award for Best New Musical. PADDINGTON The Musical opened at the Savoy Theatre, London, on 30 November 2025, and is now currently booking until February 2028. It will also open a Broadway production at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York on 17 April 2027, and is currently booking until November 2027.
Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley said: “From the outset, we have wanted PADDINGTON The Musical to open only in cities where it can be produced with the same ambition, care and theatrical scale as in London. Paddington’s journey across the world in search of a new home - and his discovery that home can be found through kindness, acceptance and a sense of belonging - feels particularly resonant for Australian audiences. Together with Sydney’s extraordinary appetite for world-class musical theatre and the affection Australians have long held for Paddington, this makes the city a natural new home for our production. We are thrilled to be bringing the show to the Capitol Theatre with STUDIOCANAL and deeply grateful to Destination NSW for its belief in the production and for helping us bring Paddington to Sydney.”
Composer Tom Fletcher said, “It has been the greatest adventure of my career to be entrusted with bringing Paddington's story to life on stage alongside my brilliant creative collaborators Jessica, Luke and our producers Sonia and Eliza. The response from West End audiences of all ages has been unlike anything I've ever experienced. I’ve made many happy memories writing, recording and touring Australia over the years and I am so excited to have the opportunity to bring our show to Sydney and share this very rare and special bear with Australian audiences.”
Casting for the new Sydney production will be announced at a later date.