Congress Theatre, Eastbourne – 17th – 22nd August 2026
The Bodyguard The Musical brings Whitney Houston’s biggest hits, a gripping story and a serious dose of theatrical glamour together for a night that’s hard to sit still through.
Based on the much loved 1992 film, there’s romance, tension, big performances and, of course, one of the greatest collections of pop songs ever written. At The Congress Theatre in Eastbourne, it’s a proper treat for anyone who loves a great musical and an even better soundtrack.
The story wastes no time getting going. Rachel Marron is a global superstar whose life looks enviable from the outside, but behind the fame, the pressure is mounting. Threatening messages are becoming more sinister, and her security team knows she needs serious protection. Enter Frank Farmer, a highly disciplined former Secret Service agent who takes his job very seriously. Rachel, unsurprisingly, isn’t thrilled about having someone telling her where she can go, who she can see and how she should behave.
That clash gives the show much of its personality. Rachel is confident, stubborn and used to getting her own way, while Frank is controlled, serious and not remotely interested in celebrity drama. Neither is particularly keen on giving an inch, so their professional relationship becomes a constant battle of wills. Naturally, underneath all that arguing, something else starts to develop.
Adam Garcia gives Frank a really strong stage presence, playing him with a calm authority that suits the character perfectly. There’s a physicality to his performance too, which makes the bodyguard side of the role convincing without turning him into a caricature of the tough guy protector. Frank isn’t a character who gets loads of musical material, so much of Garcia’s work comes through his acting, expressions and interactions with the rest of the cast. He handles those quieter moments well and gives the story a solid centre.
Sidonie Smith is billed to play Rachel but tonight we had Mireia Mambo take on this enormous task, and it’s hard to imagine anyone playing the part better. Whitney Houston’s songs are famously demanding, and Mireia tackles them with impressive vocal strength, range and confidence. She doesn’t simply copy Houston, either. Rachel is her own character, and Smith gives her a distinct identity while still delivering the songs audiences have come to hear.
There’s a lot riding on Rachel’s performance because so much of the musical sits on her shoulders. Thankfully, she’s more than up to it. The bigger numbers give her room to really let loose, while the quieter songs allow a more vulnerable side of Rachel to emerge. The contrast works well because she isn’t just presented as a glamorous superstar. There’s a woman underneath the fame who’s dealing with fear, family pressure and the increasingly uncomfortable reality that someone is watching her every move.
Sasha Monique is another standout as Nicki Marron, Rachel’s sister. Nicki has her own ambitions and insecurities, and Monique brings a warmth and emotional depth to the role that gives the character real weight. Her voice is gorgeously rich too, creating a lovely contrast with Rachel and adding another dimension to the musical numbers. Their relationship isn’t always straightforward, and that gives the story an extra layer beyond the central romance.
Then there’s the stalker, who provides some of the show’s most unsettling moments. James Lee Harris makes the character genuinely creepy without needing to constantly be centre stage. Sometimes it’s the simplest movements that create the most tension, and the production understands that. Video effects and lighting help build the sense that Rachel is being watched, while sudden changes in atmosphere keep the thriller element bubbling away beneath the music.
The staging does a great job of moving between Rachel’s glamorous world and the darker side of the story. Concert scenes have a big, polished feel, while the more intimate scenes bring the action back down to earth. Lighting plays a major part too, particularly when the show shifts into its more suspenseful moments. The production has a concert feel when it needs one, but it doesn’t forget that there’s a thriller playing out underneath all the sequins and superstar costumes.
The songs are the main event and The Bodyguard musical knows it. Queen of the Night gets things off to a suitably huge start before the show works its way through Whitney Houston favourites including So Emotional, Saving All My Love for You, I’m Your Baby Tonight, Run to You, I Have Nothing and How Will I Know.
One Moment in Time provides another big vocal moment. Unlike some other musicals, the songs don’t simply appear because someone thinks it’s time for another hit. Many are worked into Rachel’s story and emotions, while others are presented as performances within her career as a superstar.
Of course, everyone is waiting for I Will Always Love You. It’s the song that could easily overshadow everything else, but when it arrives, it earns its place as the big finale. There’s something about hearing that song performed live in a theatre that makes it feel different from just putting the original recording on at home. The room goes quiet, the voice takes over and suddenly you remember just how extraordinary the song is. And praise to the ensemble cast and dancers who really threw themselves into the challenging choreography.
The show also gets the balance between suspense and fun right. It can be tense one minute and then completely switch gears into a huge musical number. That contrast keeps the evening moving and stops the darker storyline from becoming too heavy. There are moments of humour too, which give the audience a chance to relax before the tension starts building again.
The Bodyguard The Musical isn’t trying to reinvent the story. Instead, it takes a hugely recognisable film, fills it with some of Whitney Houston’s best known songs and turns it into a glossy theatrical experience, even making time to flesh out characters a little more such as Nicki. The vocal performances, concert style staging and suspense are the shows biggest strengths. The whole thing is big, dramatic and unapologetically entertaining.
Whether you know every word to I Wanna Dance With Somebody or you’re just after a fun night at the theatre, The Bodyguard The Musical delivers a show that has something for everyone. The vocals are the star attraction, the story keeps things moving and the staging gives the whole production a suitably glamorous finish. Most importantly, it leaves you with that rare feeling of wanting the final song to keep going just a little bit longer. It’s no surprise that the whole audience are on its feet by the end.
The Bodyguard The Musical review – 5 stars
Photo credit: The Bodyguard (Tour) Limited
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