If you’re wondering whether the Paddington musical is a tearjerker, be warned: it’s already moved people to tears during rehearsals – even members of early 2000s boybands!
Before the show officially opened in London’s West End, Tom Fletcher, who wrote the music and lyrics, shared that his McFly bandmates were among the first to get emotional during some of its more sentimental scenes.
He added that McFly has been incredibly supportive, just like everyone is with each other’s individual projects. However, they especially recognize how unique this particular project is and are thrilled to bring their children along for the experience.
The Voice judge also mentioned that he received support from family beyond his bandmates while writing the song. He explained that whenever he needed ideas for the Browns family, he could always rely on his wife, sister, and son. His children were especially helpful, having listened to the songs countless times and even assisted by recording demo versions with him.
Fletcher comes from a theatrical family. His sister is Carrie Hope Fletcher, a well-known West End performer who’s been in shows like Les Misérables, Elf the Musical, and Heathers. His wife, Giovanna, has also acted on stage, appearing in productions like 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Girl on The Train. Most recently, their son followed in their footsteps, performing in a limited run of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express.
Theatre has had a huge impact on my life and my family’s, he explained. From age eight to sixteen, I trained full-time in theatre, and being in a production of ‘Oliver’ at nine years old really shaped my childhood. I always hoped theatre would remain a significant part of my life even after leaving school.
Looking back, even musicals like McFly really shaped my songwriting. If you listen to our first two albums, you’ll notice many of the songs connect to tell a single, larger story, and some feature quite elaborate orchestral arrangements.
When Paddington’s filming started, Julian Fletcher was still touring with McFly and Busted. The tour didn’t finish until November 6th in Sheffield, which made it difficult for him to manage his time.
It’s completely crazy busy right now, and I’m not getting much sleep,” he said with a laugh. “I spent the first week rehearsing for Paddington, and then immediately went into rehearsals with McFly versus Busted. It’s a real struggle to balance everything – I even have to miss the first preview of Paddington because we’re performing at the O2 that same night.
It’s still surreal to me – I can hardly believe I’m performing a sold-out show at the O2 Arena on the very same night my musical is debuting in the West End! It’s absolutely incredible.
I’m so excited for Paddington the Musical! I’ve heard it’s starting previews on November 1st, 2025, but the official first night isn’t until November 30th. And the best part? It’s planned to run all the way until May 2026 – I can’t wait to see it again and again!
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2025-11-01 14:04