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\n \n When \u2018Paddington<\/a> the Musical\u2019 \u2014 a theatrical retelling of the British children\u2019s classic<\/a> \u2014 was announced, fans had one big question. How could Paddington Bear<\/a> exist in a theater?\n <\/p>\n \n It is one thing to imagine a polite, talking bear who loves marmalade sandwiches in a book or to create one in a movie through the magic of CGI. It is quite another to bring it to life on stage.\n <\/p>\n \n But photos and videos released by the musical\u2019s makers<\/a> on its opening night Saturday have finally revealed exactly how the creative team managed to create a believable bear capable of entrancing an audience.\n <\/p>\n \n Two actors play the little bear from Peru \u2014 Arti Shah wears the costume and provides the physical performance while James Hameed provides the voice from offstage and controls Paddington\u2019s facial expressions remotely.\n <\/p>\n \n The costume was designed by veteran costume and puppet designer Tahra Zafar and, of course, includes Paddington\u2019s trademark blue duffel coat and red hat, as well as mechanics that enable facial expressions like blinking.\n <\/p>\n \n The end result promptly went viral on TikTok, with thousands of people commenting on videos showing the cast\u2019s bows on Saturday at the Savoy Theatre in London.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cNeeded to document the cutest thing I\u2019ve ever seen in my entire life on tiktok because LOOK AT HIMMMMM! Never thought I\u2019d cry so much at a person in a bear suit,\u201d wrote one TikToker in a video<\/a> that has more than 850,000 likes.\n <\/p>\n \n Another just commented, \u201cI don\u2019t wanna sound too dramatic but I\u2019d die for him.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The musical, which features music written by McFly founder Tom Fletcher, is based on the movie \u201cPaddington,\u201d which was in turn based on \u201cA Bear Called Paddington,\u201d the first book in the series written by Michael Bond.\n <\/p>\n \n It depicts the beginning of Paddington\u2019s adventures in Britain, namely his arrival at Paddington Station in London, where he is found by the Brown family, wearing a tag saying \u201cPlease look after this bear. Thank you.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cPaddington Bear is like the most iconic character Britain has ever created,\u201d Hameed said<\/a> in a video released by the musical, adding that he and Shah had been involved in creating the show for three years.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cAudiences can expect a really wonderful story that is able to tell a multitude of really complex issues but through like a really relatable lens,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cAnd showing the story of kindness, which the world absolutely needs right now, and showing that everybody is an equal and should be treated with respect and love,\u201d Shah said.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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