'Actors from 'Paddington the Musical' Share How They Bring the Adored Bear to Life on Stage: 'You'll Truly Feel Like Paddington is Right There with You'

When Paddington first appears on stage in the Savoy Theatres latest West End production, the audience erupts with delight. Cheers, laughter, and affectionate exclamations fill the theater as the beloved bear sings, dances, and expresses a full range of emotions through his animated expressions. Its a magical moment that brings Paddington vividly to life.

The secret behind this transformation is a combination of a meticulously designed bear costume and the talents of two performers: James Hameed and Arti Shah. Hameed provides Paddingtons voice and remotely controls his facial expressions, while Shah embodies the character physically inside the suit for most of the two-hour-and-40-minute show.

Both Hameed and Shah have been involved in the production for three years, attending workshops and refining every detail of Paddingtons speech, movements, and gestures. The musical, directed by Luke Sheppard with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, officially opens on Sunday night at the Savoy Theatre.

Performers Reflect on Paddingtons Role

Arti Shah: "My first memory of Paddington is watching him on TV with my older brother as a child. Later, I enjoyed the films with my family and even read the books to my young son. Paddington has been part of my life through both childhood and adulthood, both personally and professionally."

James Hameed: "Paddington resonates differently for everyone. For my mother, he symbolized British virtues like politeness and tea. For my father, he represented the challenges of moving to a new home and adapting to a different culture. That duality is what makes him special, embodying kindness and vulnerability that can speak to anyone."

Bringing Paddington to Life on Stage

Hameed: "I start as a separate character called the Young Man, who lends his voice to Paddington. I also remotely puppeteer the bears facial expressions. Initially, three people handled Paddington, but we found that two performers created a more seamless, immediate connection."

Shah: "Wearing the bear suit requires physical and emotional preparation. I use padding and suit design to help with posture and movement, and I draw on Method acting techniques to convey emotions authentically. My prior work in films like Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy helped me adapt to the physical demands."

Paddington is lively and constantly moving on stage. Shahs vision is limited inside the suit, but experience and coordination with Hameed ensure her safety while maintaining the illusion of a fully animated bear. Hameed emphasizes his priority is always the physical performers safety.

Royal Encounter

Recently, Paddington met Prince William and Kate Middleton. Shah recalls, "Paddington was charming and polite, sharing his marmalade sandwich and tipping his hat. He stayed composed throughout, impressing everyone present."

Future Prospects

Though currently opening in London, the performers believe the show could have international appeal. "Paddington is beloved worldwide and would resonate in any city," says Hameed. Shah adds, "Hes very adaptable, always ready with his suitcase of marmalade."

Author: Sophia Brooks