A sensational performance of The Bodyguard at Wales Millennium Centre

Thanks to Wales Millennium Centre for providing us with tickets for the purpose of this review

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The Bodyguard the Musical is back in Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre for the week and, as you can see from this video of last night’s curtain call, it is a brilliant night out. 

Packed full of Whitney Houston’s biggest hits, the film The Bodyguard was a cultural phenomenon. Pop icon Whitney Houston played global superstar singer and actress Rachel Marron, while Kevin Costner as Frank Farmer, the bodyguard hired to protect her from a sinister stalker. It earned several Academy Award and Grammy nominations, was the second highest grossing film of 1992 worldwide, behind only Aladdin, and became the 10th-highest-grossing film of all time at the time. The iconic soundtrack sold more than 45 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling soundtrack of all time, and winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. I Will Always Love You, Houston’s cover of the Dolly Parton classic, spent an incredible 10 weeks at number one in the UK charts, 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the best-selling physical single by a female artist of all time.

The stage musical first premiered in the West End in December 2012 and has become a global success in its own right, nominated for four Olivier Awards. With the soundtrack including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, Greatest Love Of All, Million Dollar Bill, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and I Will Always Love You, it is a wonderful tribute to the unique talent that was Whitney Houston.

I first saw if when if came to Wales Millennium Centre in April 2024 with my eldest child, who was then, and was excited to have the chance to see it again at last night’s opening performance as it arrives back in Cardiff for a week-long run.

Mireia Mambo is incredible in the lead role of Rachel Marron (she’s actually the alternative with Sidonie Smith in the part for most of the run). Her vocals, dancing and costumes are every bit the pop sensation she is playing, she’s so very watchable. Stage sensation Adam Garcia is Frank Farmer, protecting her from a sinister stalker. He’s great in the role, sturdy but with a softer underside, and his karaoke scene has the whole audience laughing out loud. The only downside is we don’t get to see the vocal and dancing talent he’s known for until the finale. 

Sasha Monique as Rachel’s sister Nicki is also superb, her vocals are phenomenal although as with Garcia, she’s not given enough chance to shine. The one slight negative of this show is that it’s very much a vehicle for Rachel to sing all the famous Whitney songs; it would be so lovely to see more from some of the other performers. Sasha’s vocals are incredible, she has an air of Whitney about her and she would make a fantastic Rachel. 

The production feels like a pop concert at times with choreography, clever lighting, pyrotechnics and special effects, but amid all the belters and ballads comes the sinister undertones of the stalker played by James-Lee Harris, with some clever digital technology adding to the menacing feel.

The age guidance is 10+ – there are a few jump scares which took everyone by surprise and some of the stalker scenes are a little sinister but the music and dancing soon snap you out of it. I took my 14 year old who knew nothing of the film but recognised lots of the songs and thought it was excellent; he especially loved the band who did a brilliant job of accompanying all night.

With such familiar songs, it’s hard not to sing along, but thankfully we are rewarded with an energising curtain call where the whole cast sing and dance to I Wanna Dance With Someone and we are encouraged to get up and dance and sing along. It’s a brilliant end to a thoroughly entertaining night.

The Bodyguard is at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff from Monday 20-Saturday 25 July. Tickets, priced from £22, are still available although availability is limited at some performances. Age guidance 10+, no under 2s. The performance is two hours and 20 minutes including an interval. Book online here.

Also coming up at Wales Millennium Centre

The Karate Kid The Musical 28 July-1 August

Jersey Boys 11-22 August

Calon (Urdd Youth Theatre) 27-29 August

Dog Man The Musical 16-17 October

Dirty Dancing 20-24 October

Owain & Henry 5-28 November

Mamma Mia! 30 Novemeber-5 December

Matilda The Musical 9 Decemer-17 January