ALEXANDRA BURKE TO STAR IN THE BODYGUARD

On 2 June this year, Alexandra Burke will join the cast of the hit West End musical The Bodyguard, to play the leading role of Oscar-nominated superstar Rachel Marron.  Burke will play opposite Tristan Gemmill who continues in the role of Rachel’s bodyguard, Frank Farmer.  Alexandra Burke will join the production at the Adelphi Theatre where the show is playing to 30 August 2014.  Beverley Knight will continue in the role of Rachel Marron until 31 May 2014.

Alexandra Burke said:  “I couldn’t be more excited about joining the cast of The Bodyguard and to play the iconic role of Rachel Marron will be adream come true. I am a massive Whitney Houston fan so to be given the opportunity to play a role made famous by her every night will be a real privilege.  I start rehearsals very soon with my fellow cast mates and thebrilliant creative team and, with a little trepidation, I am looking forward to our first performance in June.”

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film, Thea Sharrock’s production of The Bodyguard has book by Alex Dinelaris.  November 2012 saw the world premiere of this production which continues to play to packed houses and standing ovations.  

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 whole 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 greatest hit songs of all time - I Will Always Love You. 

Three-time Brit nominee 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. 

The current cast (March 2014) comprises Beverley Knight (Rachel Marron), Tristan Gemmill (Frank Farmer), Carole Stennett (Nicki Marron), Richard Lloyd King (Bill Devaney), Stephen Marcus (Tony), Dominic Taylor (Sy Spector), Michael Rouse (Stalker) and Stuart Reid (Ray Court).  Ensemble members are Gareth Andrews, Kimball Armes, Christopher Birch, Hannah Fairclough, Robert Gill, Nicky Griffiths, Ben Harrold, Jamie Hughes-Ward, Alex Jackson, Genesis Lynea, Fergal McGoff, Sara Morley, Joelle Moses, David O’Mahoney, Stuart Rogers, Kyle Seeley, Danielle Steers, Katy Stredder and Christopher Terry.  Jhayheim Davis, Chiesa Musonda, Kiano Samuels and Joshua Tikare alternate the role of Fletcher, Rachel Marron’s young son. 

Designs are by Tim Hatley, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker and video designs by Duncan McLean.  Choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan with musical supervision by Mike Dixon. The Bodyguard is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.