Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of the new musical THE BODYGUARD. Joining the previously announced Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen in the new musical The Bodyguard, to be directed by Thea Sharrock, will be Debbie Kurup, Mark Letheren, Ray Shell, Nicolas Colicos, Mark McKerracher, Sean Chapman, David Page and Oliver Le Sueur.  They are joined by Luis Buddy, Caius Duncombe, Jaydon Fowora Knight, Kwame Kandekore, Taylor Lockhart and Malakai Paul who will share the role of Fletcher, Rachel Marron’s young son.  Ensemble members are Nigel Barber, Jordan Darrell, Yasmin Harrison, Shanay Holmes, Holly James, Robert Jezek, Melissa Keyes, Gil Kolirin, Janet Kumah, Nick Maude, Richard Murphy, Gloria Onitiri, Ashley J Packer, Dharmesh Patel, Lucinda Shaw, Paul Smethurst, Charlotte Watts and James Wooldridge.

Debbie Kurup (Nicki Marron) who originated the roles of Dee Dee in TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT at the Victoria Palace and KT in SISTER ACT at the London Palladium was recently seen reviving the role of Velma Kelly in CHICAGO.  Kurup played Mimi in RENT both in the West End and on tour in the UK.  She also performed at the Royal Albert Hall in CHESS IN CONCERT and at ‘the Night of 1000 Voices’.

Mark Letheren’s (The Stalker) theatre credits include ‘The Country Girl’ at the Apollo Theatre, ‘Comedians’ and ‘All My Sons’ for the Bolton Octagon, ‘Cloud Nine’ at the Almeida Theatre, ‘Find The Lady’ for the Young Vic and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  His many television credits include roles in ‘Casualty’ and ‘Wire in the Blood’ as well as ‘Tales from Pleasure Beach’ and ‘Judge John Deed’.  On film he has appeared in ‘Control and Restoration’.

Ray Shell’s (Bill Devaney) theatre credits include ‘Vernon God Little’ for the Young Vic, MISS SAIGON at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, GONE WITH THE WIND at the New London Theatre, THE LION KING at the Lyceum, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE for the National Theatre, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Barbican, BLUES IN THE NIGHT for West Yorkshire Playhouse and STARLIGHT EXPRESS at the Victoria Apollo.  On screen his credits include ‘Young Soul Rebels’, ‘Velvet Goldmine’ and ‘Monster Trilogy’.

Nicolas Colicos’ (Tony) theatre credits include WONDERFUL TOWN at the Queens Theatre, WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND at the Aldwych, SUNSET BOULEVARD at the Adelphi, MAMMA MIA at the Prince Edward, THE PRODUCERS at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at the National Theatre and ‘Out of this World’ for Chichester Festival Theatre.  His screen credits include ‘The New Statesman’, ‘Young Indiana Jones’ and ‘Iron Eagle’.

Mark McKerracher’s (Herb Farmer) theatre credits include Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES in the West End and on Broadway, SWEENEY TODD for Theatre Clywd, CATS at the New London Theatre, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at the Menier Chocolate Factory and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Her Majesty’s Theatre.  His US theatre credits include Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, SOUTH PACIFIC, CAROUSEL and EVITA.  His screen credits include ‘Kavanagh QC’, ‘Days That Shook The World’ and ‘The Government Inspector’.

Sean Chapman’s (Sy Spector) theatre credits include ‘Angels In America’, ‘Rutherford and Son’ and ‘Sleep with Me’ for the National Theatre, ‘Certain Young Men and Enemies’ for the Almeida Theatre, ‘A Prayer For My Daughter’ at the Young Vic, ‘Hamlet’ for Manchester Royal Exchange, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ at Leicester Haymarket and ‘The Clandestine Marriage’ for Bristol Old Vic.  His screen roles include ‘Peak Practice’, ‘Kavannagh QC’, ‘Midsommer Murders’, ‘Trial and Retribution’, ‘Murphy´s Law’ and ‘For Queen and Country’. 

David Page’s (Rory) theatre credits include PIPPIN at the Menier Chocolate Factory, CHICAGO at the Cambridge Theatre, KISS ME KATE on tour nationally, A CHORUS LINE for Sheffield Theatres, the European tour of FOOTLOOSE and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER at the London Palladium. On television he has appeared in ‘Hollyoaks’ and his film credits include Monty Python’s ‘Meaning of Life’.

Oliver Le Sueur’s (Ray Court) theatre credits include ‘The Fairy Queen’ at Glyndebourne, ‘Hamlet’, ‘The Taming of The Shrew’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ for Bristol Tobacco Factory, ‘Hippolytus’ for the Orange Tree Theatre a UK Tour of’ The Tempest’ and ‘King Lear’ for Bristol Old Vic.  His television credits include ‘Law & Order’, ‘Doctors’, ‘Midsomer Murders’, ‘Margaret’, ‘He Kills Coppers’, ‘Murphy’s Law’, ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘The Great Escape’.

Gloria Onitiri’s (alternate Rachel Marron) theatre credits include ‘Takeaway’ for Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nala in THE LION KING at the Lyceum Theatre, ‘The Bachaae’ for the National Theatre of Scotland and ‘Dreaming’ for Northcott Theatre and ‘Lindbury Studio’ at the Royal Opera House.  Her screen credits include ‘Bad Girls’, ‘Grass’ and ‘Resurrecting the Street Walker’.

Alternating the role of Rachel Marron’s young son Fletcher will be Luis Buddy (aged 11 from Ealing, London), Caius Duncombe (aged 11 from Shepherd’s Bush, London), Jaydon Fowora Knight (aged 11 from Lambeth, London), Kwame Kandekore (aged 9 from Leicester), Taylor Lockhart (aged 10 from Lower Earley, near Reading) and Malaki Paul (aged 10 from Edmonton, London).

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Warner Bros. film, this brand new musical of THE BODYGUARD, with book by Alex Dinelaris and directed by Thea Sharrock will open at the Adelphi Theatre in Autumn 2012. Previews begin on 6 November 2012, twenty years after the release of the Oscar nominated film.  Opening night will be on 5 December 2012.

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 multitude of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits 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”.

With designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Richard Brooker, choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan and musical supervision by Mike Dixon. THE BODYGUARD is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.