Monday, March 09, 2026
‘Utterly winning’: Paddington becomes first new West End musical to land nine WhatsOnStage awards
Stage | The Guardian: Paddington has become the first new West End musical to land nine awards at the WhatsOnStage awards.
The much-loved bear’s first appearance on the boards has wowed critics and delighted audiences since it opened in December, and it is now one of the three most awarded shows in the WhatsOnStage ceremony’s history – alongside Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Miss Saigon – as well as the most lauded new musical.
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I was fortunate enough to be able to see this when I was in London! It was a very fun, exciting, and kid-friendly musical. My favorite component of the show (and in my opinion the most technically amazing and inspiring thing) was the Paddington animatronics, and the complete cohesion between the two actors who worked together to bring the bear to life. I know a big concern of the creative team was making it seem too creepy, and it definitely didn’t read that way. It was a very interesting year for awards on the West End in my opinion–the tonal differences between some of the shows up for awards were a little bit extreme. I’m surprised that Richard II dominated the straight play categories (although maybe that’s because I hate Richard II), but it’s honestly refreshing to see it win over so many other plays that are heavily stunt casted.
I love Paddington. I think it is so fitting that the play ended up in the West End rather than Broadway because it is about a bear getting lost in London. The fact that it took home nine awards is actually wild, but I am not surprised. The story of Paddington is light-hearted, family-friendly, and fun, so I am sure adding music to it creates an even more engaging experience. I have recently read an article about how the bear itself was constructed and operated onstage, and it truly blew my mind at how the two actors accomplished it. The more I hear about this show that more I really want to see it. I am glad that Rachel Zegler did end up getting the best performer in a musical. Though I did not see any of the shows that appeared in the West End and throughout the awards, I'm glad that this show received so many.
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