Smash hit musical The Bodyguard is coming to Edinburgh in May 2026, as part of its upcoming tour around the UK and Europe. Based on the 1992 film of the same name, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard tells the tale of a former Secret Service agent tasked with protecting a celebrity from her stalker, and the romance that follows between them. Complete with timeless hit songs such as ‘I Have Nothing’, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, and ‘I Will Always Love You’, this production has been nominated for four Olivier Awards and has had multiple sell-out runs across 15 countries.
The diva pop-star lead, Rachel Marron, will be played by Sidonie Smith, who previously played this role in Stuttgart. Her previous roles include Kala in Tarzan, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar. In a recent interview, she calls The Bodyguard “pure joy”, and encourages that if you already like the music, it will be “the most incredible night you’ve had at the theatre in a long, long time.”
Smith praises her character, Rachel Marron, for her deep feeling, reckless abandon, and “full swing of emotions”, as well as her vulnerability despite being a huge star. When asked why The Bodyguard has been so well received, she highlights that not only does the audience get to witness glamour “in abundance”, with showstopper numbers and costumes with sequins and tassels, but the audience can “peel it all back and see the real people behind all the glitz”. Those real people are apparent in the love story that drives the narrative, too. As Smith puts it, “we all just want to see love win,” regardless of the glitz and glamour, and “when we see two people give it a try, we’re automatically on their side.”
This vulnerability behind fame is a key part of why The Bodyguard is so compelling, and it permeates Rachel’s other relationships, such as with her son and with her sister, Nicki. The role of Nicki will be played by Sasha Monique, who has recently performed in Hairspray and The Book of Mormon.
Monique is drawn to the bond between the Marron sisters and their shared passion for music, despite Nicki stepping back to allow Rachel to “step into the spotlight” and rise to fame.
The characters’ passion for music will certainly be made apparent to the audience, with songs that “evoke and provoke so many emotions” through “all these relatable moments”, especially through the recontextualisation of well-known songs into this narrative. Monique claims the song “Run To You” as one of the highlights of the performance, and says her new duet version with Sidonie Smith “takes the song to another level,” with “an extra layer” of harmony.
As Smith puts it, “it’s funny, it’s edgy, it’s dramatic and it’s heartbreaking”. It’s a performance where [she hopes] “time stops for people when they come in”. It’s a show where the audience can “press pause” on their lives to “be with us for one moment in time, then leave feeling a little bit lighter”.
The Bodyguard will run at the Edinburgh Playhouse from Monday 18 May – Saturday 23 May 2026.
Image by Paul Coltas, courtesy of Edinburgh Playhouse.