Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce full casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD www.thebodyguardmusical.com. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the tour opens at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 12 February 2015. Tour schedule below.
Joining the previously announced Alexandra Burke as Rachel Marron and Zoe Birkett as the alternate Rachel Marron will be: Stuart Reid as Frank Farmer, Melissa James as Nicki Marron, Mensah Bediako as Bill Devaney, Adam Venus as Sy Spector, Siôn Lloyd as Tony, Mike Denman as The Stalker and Glen Fox as Ray Court.
The rest of the company includes Jade Albertsen, Omari Bernard, Edward Clarke, Jamal Crawford, Lisa Darnell, Kieran Donovan, Lydia Fraser, Lucia Gonzalez, Jamie-Ray Hartshorne, Annie Kitchen, Oliver Roll, Sophie Usher, Matthew Wesley, Emmy Willow and Mark Willshire.
Alexandra Burke rose to fame after winning the fifth series of The X Factor. Her debut number one single Hallelujah sold over one million copies in the UK, a first for a British female soloist. Burke’s first album, Overcome saw the release of her subsequent number one singles Bad Boys and Start Without You. In 2011 she embarked on her first solo tour and was invited by Beyoncé to support her I Am… Tour. Her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, was released in June 2012 and later this year sees the release of her third studio album. Zoe Birkett is probably best known as the highest placing female contestant in ITV’s Pop Idol, 2002. Since then she has appeared in the West End productions of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and originated the female lead in Thriller Live. Her other theatre credits include the Acid Queen in Tommy and Maureen in Rent.
Stuart Reid appeared in the West End production of The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre. His other theatre credits include the international tour of Mamma Mia! and the UK tours of Grease and Guys and Dolls. Melissa James most recently appeared in Guys and Dolls at Chichester Festival Theatre and has also appeared in the UK and European tours of Cats. Mensah Bediako’s West End credits include One Man Two Guvnors, Clybourne Park and Piaf. Adam Venus has appeared in many musicals. These include Annie Get your Gun at the Young Vic and Company at the Southwark Playhouse. Sion Lloyd’s many West End theatre credits include The Pajama Game, Avenue Q and The Full Monty. Mike Denman has appeared in many West End musicals including The Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Never Forget and most recently Matilda. Glen Fox has appeared in The Honourable Woman for the BBC and his stage credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film, which starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, the musical of THE BODYGUARD was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Best Set Design and won Best New Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards.
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, I’m Your Baby Tonight, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest selling songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
THE BODYGUARD – UK AND IRELAND TOUR 2015
THURSDAY 12 – SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON – http://www.mayflower.org.uk
WEDNESDAY 4 – SATURDAY 14 MARCH
KING’S THEATRE GLASOW – http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre/
TUESDAY 17 – SATURDAY 28 MARCH
HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE ABERDEEN – www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL – SATURDAY 18 APRIL
THEATRE ROYAL NEWCASTLE – www.theatreroyal.co.uk
TUESDAY 21 APRIL – SATURDAY 2 MAY
WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE – www.grandtheatre.co.uk
TUESDAY 2 – SATURDAY 13 JUNE
ALHAMBRA THEATRE BRADFORD – www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
TUESDAY 16 JUNE – SATURDAY 27 JUNE
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF – www.wmc.org.uk
TUESDAY 7 – SATURDAY 18 JULY
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH – www.theatreroyal.com
TUESDAY 21 JULY – SATURDAY 1 AUGUST
BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE – www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
TUESDAY 4 – SATURDAY 29 AUGUST
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME – www.birminghamhippodrome.com
TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/
TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER
NOTTINGHAM CONCERT HALL – www.trch.co.uk/
TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER
LYCEUM THEATRE, SHEFFIELD – www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
TUESDAY 10 – SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER
NEW THEATRE OXFORD – www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/
TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER 2015 – SATURDAY 2 JANUARY 2016
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE – www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester
