Paddington shines at the 50th anniversary of the Olivier Awards
On April 12 in London, the Laurence Olivier Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary. Marking this symbolic year, the most striking moment of the night was undoubtedly Paddington’s sweep. The musical Paddington became the standout winner of the evening. Paddington nominated in 11 categories and won 7 awards.
Paddington is based on the beloved stories by Michael Bond. Already cherished worldwide through films and television series, the little bear in a red hat and blue duffle coat has now been brought to life on stage after a decade of development.
Many wondered how would a bear be realized on stage. What audiences witnessed felt nothing short of magic. Paddington appeared as if he had stepped straight out of the screen.
The secret lies in animatronics. The character is brought to life by two performers. Arti Shah handles the physical performance. James Hameed provides voice and facial expression. Their seamless collaboration leaves no moment unnatural. Puppet and performer become one. At this year’s ceremony, the two actors jointly won Best Actor in a Musical. In particular, Arti Shah drew significant attention as a female performer winning in the Best Actor category.
I want to thank my dad, my very own Paddington, who came to this country to have his own dream of building a life in this wonderful city of London. Paddington reminds us to be welcoming, inquisitive, and most importantly, kind. This is an incredible honour and to quote our wonderful Tom Fletcher’s lyrics, “Kindness isn’t ever complicated".
On stage, Arti Shah also spoke directly to her son.
My darling son, Mommy is going to keep making you proud and I’m going to keep showing you that being different is a good thing.
Paddington first appeared in 1958 in a novel. A small bear from Peru, he is discovered at London’s Paddington Station and taken in by the Brown family. At its heart, the story is about an outsider.
And it remains just as relevant today. In a strange city, surrounded by unfamiliar language and unfamiliar gazes, Paddington never abandons kindness. There is no complex philosophy or grand message. Just as he is simply a bear who loves marmalade sandwiches, his way of being is just as simple.
Playwright Jessica Swale described it as an honour to bring this special bear to the stage. Composer and lyricist Tom Fletcher added.
Paddington is such a family. We’ve tried to make a show that is all about celebrating kindness and to be part of this group of people that is putting that out into the world at this time. It feels so special.
At a time when speaking about kindness feels more urgent than ever, his words linger. The musical’s original cast recording has also been released, allowing audiences beyond the theatre to experience its music and spirit.
production photos ©Johan Persson
