Using state-of-the-art animatronics to bring Paddington to life, the new musical has wowed critics and delighted audiences since it opened in December

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.

Long hours, lack of flexibility and last-minute scheduling driving parents, particularly mothers, from industry

The performing arts industry in the UK is “inhospitable to parents” and falling far behind other industries in supporting women who have children, according to research.

The report, titled “the Motherhood penalty”, criticises the industry for failing to consider how it might adapt to better accommodate parents, with the result that many, in particular women, drop out.