Review: The Bodyguard musical UK tour, with Sidonie Smith and Adam Garcia | Glasgow King's Theatre
- Lisa in the theatre
- May 26
- 4 min read
Updated: May 27
Ever popular musical The Bodyguard has arrived back in Glasgow this week with international stage star Sidonie Smith and theatre favourite Adam Garcia in the lead roles. The 2025/2026 UK tour production of The Bodyguard is at the King's Theatre, Glasgow until Saturday 30 May 2026. Read my review below.
The Bodyguard musical ★★★☆☆
Review: 25 May 2026 | King's Theatre, Glasgow
Based on the 1992 Oscar-nominated film, which starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard is a jukebox musical that features the music of pop legend Whitney Houston. The stage musical follows much the same plot as the cult classic film.
Former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer (Adam Garcia) is hired to protect music superstar Rachel Marron (Sidonie Smith), who has been threatened by a dangerous stalker (James-Lee Harris.) Initially, Rachel is resistant to Frank's heavy-handed approach to her safety, and she continues to put herself in dangerous situations in order to do her job as a pop star. But as the stalker further infiltrates her life, and Rachel's concern for her family grows, the pair make the situation even more complicated by falling in love.
The Bodyguard is a rare jukebox musical that actually has a decent dramatic plot. With a book by Alexander Dinelaris based on the screenplay by Lawrence Kasden, Director Thea Sharrock does a great job of building the tension throughout the musical, of making the threat to Rachel's safety feel real and the quiet, methodical stalker character genuinely unsettling. It's the "thriller" aspect of this romantic thriller that makes The Bodyguard a little different from the usual lightweight jukebox musical fare. (There is absolutely a place for both in the theatre world!)
There's a predictable love story bubbling under the thrills in The Bodyguard, and you can't help but get carried away in the sweeping romance of it all. Rachel's iconic line "He's my Bodyguard!" never fails to make my heart flutter. The staging for this new production does lay it on thick at times however, with slow-motion videos of Adam Garcia's face swirling atop one of the ballads, a cheesy step too far.
The Bodyguard 2026 lead cast
American theatre star Sidonie Smith steps into the lead role for this new UK tour production. She's an excellent Rachel Marron with the vibrant superstar energy needed to convincingly play a famous pop star. Sidonie has a beautiful, rocky tone to her voice, and she makes every Whitney Houston song her own. And while that may not be popular with Whitney purists, I found it refreshing and exciting. More importantly, it neatly steers this musical away from Whitney Houston Karaoke territory.
It's fascinating to see Musical Theatre and dance legend Adam Garcia in a straight role; He neither sings (seriously) nor dances in this production. He plays bodyguard Frank Farmer with an understated grace, yet he still oozes the charisma and charm he is so known for, and that is expected of the Kevin Costner heartthrob character.
Rachel's sister, Nicki, is played by Sasha Monique, whose exquisite voice is a highlight. Sidonie and Sasha perform the majority of the much-loved Whitney Houston songs in this pop-ballad-filled show including 'Queen of the Night', 'So Emotional', 'One Moment in Time', 'Saving All My Love', 'Run to You', 'I Have Nothing' and 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody', All of the musical numbers are excellent, but Sidonie Smith's version of the Dolly Parton penned Whitney mega hit "I Will Always Love You" is one of the best I've heard.
The dancers in the Bodyguard are always a highlight
Many of the big musical numbers in The Bodyguard are performed concert style, complete with a cast of brilliant supporting dancers who bring an infectious energy and authenticity to these scenes. Of course, a pop superstar would be flanked at all times by some of the best dancers you've ever seen! Karen Bruce's choreography is upbeat and engaging, and the costumes are eye-catching and sparkly. The staging for these crowd-pleasing parts is creative, and they sit well within the context of the story.
However, the scenes set in and around Rachel's home are rather drab in comparison. The set relies heavily on ruffled curtains, which look dated and give the impression that the show lacks budget. Mark Henderson's lighting design does a lot of heavy lifting to enhance the visuals, with a particularly effective use of light and shadow throughout the show.
The Bodyguard is set in the 90s, and Whitney Houston's music is timeless, yet the show is starting to feel a little tired despite the best efforts of the talented cast and crew. It doesn't have the spark that it had when it first burst onto the musical theatre scene. Now on its fourth major UK tour in ten years, perhaps that is to be expected. But for fans of the film, or of the music, it does still offer a good night out at the theatre with an upbeat, dance-along finalé and a heartwarming shot of nostalgia. ★★★☆☆
MORE: also playing in Glasgow this week - John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold starring Ralf Little. Read my review here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/the-spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold-play-review
The Bodyguard is at the King's Theatre, Glasgow until Saturday 30 May 2026, and then it continues on tour across the UK and Ireland through 2026.
Tickets from atgtickets.com/Glasgow
More UK tour venues via ATG Tickets: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-bodyguard/
MORE: Read The Bodyguard musical 2025 / 2026 UK tour lead cast announcement here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/the-bodyguard-2026-cast-announcement
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