Beverley Knight and Tristan Gemmill will take the lead roles in The Bodyguard in September
Award-winning recording artist Beverley Knight will make her West End debut when she joins the cast of The Bodyguard this September to play the leading role of Oscar-nominated star Rachel Marron. Also joining the line-up will be Tristan Gemmill as Rachel’s bodyguard Frank Farmer.
The two performers replace Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen who originated the roles when the musical opened at the Adelphi Theatre in December 2012.
On joining the London production said: “I am so excited about playing Rachel Marron on stage in The Bodyguard. To be making my West End theatre debut playing such an iconic role is both somewhat challenging and highly exhilarating and it will be nothing but a privilege to perform the best of Whitney Houston’s extraordinary catalogue each night on stage at the Adelphi Theatre. I first heard Whitney’s music when she made her debut and exploded onto the scene with ‘Saving All My Love For You’ when I was 13 years old. I have been mesmerised ever since.”
Tristan Gemmill added: “It’s a real thrill for me to be returning to the West End in Thea Sharrock’s production of The Bodyguard. It’s going to be a huge challenge but one I can’t wait to get started on. Being responsible for protecting my co-star, the phenomenally talented Beverley Knight, and to hear her performing Whitney Houston’s timeless classics each night, will be something very special and I’m very much looking forward to getting on board and starting rehearsals with this incredible company.”
Joining Knight and Gemmill will be Debbie Kurup continuing in the role of Nicki Marron. They are also joined by Richard Lloyd King (Bill Devaney), Stephen Marcus (Tony), Dominic Taylor (Sy Spector), Michael Rouse (Stalker) and Stuart Reid (Ray Court). Ensemble members are Joelle Moses (who will understudy Knight), 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, David O’Mahoney, Stuart Rogers, Kyle Seeley, Danielle Steers, Katy Stredder and Christopher Terry. The young actors who will alternate the role of Rachel Marron’s young son Fletcher will be announced shortly.
Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Warner Brothers film, Tharrock’s production of The Bodyguard has a book by Alex Dinelaris. Booking has now extended to 8th March 2014.
With designs by Tim Hatley, 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.
Knight is a singer, songwriter and record producer who has been one of the UK’s most consistent artists since the release of her debut album in 1995. Having sold more than a million albums in the UK, her latest album Soul UK was a top 15 charting album upon its release in July 2011. To date, she has won three MOBO Awards, an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Urban Music Awards, been three times nominated for Best Female at the Brit Awards and twice nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. Knight, who in 2007 was awarded an MBE for her services to music and charity, is currently working on her eighth studio album.
Gemmill is best known for playing Dr Adam Trueman in the BBC long-running medical drama series Casualty. His earlier theatre credits include A Streetcar Named Desire for Theatre Clwyd, Dangerous Corner for Chichester Festival Theatre, Design For Living for English Touring Theatre and Henry V for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.