Bye Bye Everybody,
Bye Bye
A new family theatre show about the extraordinary life of Harry Corbett, creator of Sooty
Bye Bye Everybody, Bye Bye is an exciting new musical about the life of Harry Corbett, creator of Sooty, who captured the hearts (and screens) of generations of children.
This is the untold story of how one man with a teddy bear puppet bridged the gap between variety theatre and the golden age of television. From seaside stages and fish-and-chip shops in Leeds, to the BBC and the London Paladium, this is a tale of class, craft, and the complicated love between a father, his son, and a bear who refused to behave.
At its heart, it’s a story about the sacrifices we make for our families and our art. Harry and Matthew Corbett passed Sooty down from one generation to the next – a legacy that brought joy to millions, but came at a cost behind the scenes.
Watch Harry and Sooty in action
Why now?
The year 2028 will mark the 80th anniversary of Sooty, one of the longest-running and most beloved children’s characters in British television history.
Sooty first appeared in 1948, when Harry Corbett purchased a yellow bear glove puppet on Blackpool’s North Pier to entertain his children. Originally named “Teddy,” the puppet was later renamed “Sooty” after Corbett blackened its ears and nose with soot to make it more visible on black-and-white TV. By 1952, Sooty had made his first appearance on the BBC, and a legend was born.
Over the decades, Sooty has remained a constant in British pop culture – evolving through generations while staying true to his cheeky, silent, and slapstick roots. From Harry to his son Matthew Corbett, and now in the hands of Richard Cadell, Sooty’s journey reflects not just a showbiz legacy but a story of family, craftsmanship, and the changing face of children's entertainment.
Our vision
At Little Seeds Music, we believe that children deserve the very best – bold, brilliant storytelling and live music performed with skill, heart, and flair. Just like all our productions, Bye Bye Everybody, Bye Bye will feature an ensemble cast of actor-musicians, with live music at the heart of every moment on stage.
It’s a perfect fit. Harry Corbett wasn’t just the creator of Sooty – he was a gifted concert pianist, and music was always a key ingredient in his act. Whether it was Sooty “playing” the xylophone or full musical numbers woven into the sketches, Corbett understood the power of music to delight, surprise and connect with young audiences.
Harry’s passion for quality and craft in performance shaped a generation of children’s entertainment. At a time when kids’ TV was dominated by polite, plodding puppets like Muffin the Mule and Andy Pandy, Sooty burst onto the screen with chaos, charm, and comedy that didn’t talk down to its audience. That spirit – clever, anarchic, and musically driven – inspires everything we do.
Like Harry, we’re committed to making sophisticated, high-quality musical theatre for families – work that respects its audience, challenges expectations, and places children at the centre of the experience. In a world where young audiences are still too often underestimated, we’re proud to carry on the tradition of giving them something truly special.