The Bodyguard at The Bristol Hippodrome | August 2026
Posted on: 2026-08-12
Our rating:
It’s more than a feel-good show. It’s bold, slick and thoroughly enjoyable.
The fabulous cast and production team of The Bodyguard opened with a bang at The Bristol Hippodrome on Tuesday night, and this could quite honestly be one of the best shows I have seen here.
An explosion of colour, lights and fire kicked off an impressive production that portrayed the story superbly. I had my doubts about a musical being anywhere near as good as the original Houston / Costner movie, but I was very wrong. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet – I strongly advise you to!
The story is simple, and the soundtrack is so very familiar to those of us of a certain age. For anyone to take on so many Whitney hits is brave, but Rachel, the leading lady – played this evening by by Mireia Mambo, sang with the presence of an icon. She delivered ‘The Greatest Love of All’ and ‘I Have Nothing’ with a combination of strength and vulnerability throughout her vocals. She also duetted a powerhouse version of ‘I’m Every Woman’ with her on-stage sister – who similarly impressed.
.jpeg "Mireia Mambo as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard at The Bristol Hippodrome - August 2026")
And, when we meet Frank Farmer, played by the particularly suave and cool Adam Garcia, it’s clear that this is going to be a great show. Adam plays the role in his own, slightly understated way. He’s not one for the limelight, which adds to the charm of the former secret-service agent turned elite bodyguard character he portrays.
Rachel is a strong-willed diva who rejects and rebels against Frank’s better judgement and strict security restrictions designed to protect her. The story progresses and Frank keeps her safe from multiple close calls. The two become entwined romantically, which is never good in a business arrangement, and something must give.
Supported by a small but very talented cast backed by spot-on choreography, and a fantastic orchestra, the show is top drawer. The lighting, set design and scene changes are exceptional and more than any other production I have seen, this really added to the overall impact.
It’s more than a feel-good show. It’s bold, slick and thoroughly enjoyable.
You really should go...The show runs until Saturday 15 August 2026.
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Interesting fact – Although the film was in the early 1990s, the original script was actually written by Lawrence Kasdan way back in 1975 and was envisioned for Steve McQueen and Diana Ross.
Article by:
Kate O’Malley is Bristol-based Recruitment Manager and Irish Dance teacher who enjoys writing about live music and interesting eateries. Hailing from Manchester, Kate set up home in Bristol over 20 years ago and fell in love with this city, despite its lack of top flight football. She has two teenage boys and a lab/springer cross. You can find more about her dance school here www.omalleyirishdance.co.uk.
