Beverley Knight will remain the West End’s Baby Tonight for many more nights to come with the news her that run as The Bodyguard’s leading lady Rachel Marron has extended to 31 May.
The singer-songwriter made her professional acting debut in Thea Sharrock’s hit film-to-stage adaptation in September, when her powerful performance as the diva made famous by Whitney Houston earned her both public and critical acclaim.
Talking to Official London Theatre in an YouTube Q&A earlier this year, Knight described her first West End musical role as “incredible”, explaining: “theatre [is something] I’ve grown up with, as an admirer as an observer, and now here I am on the stage looking out at an audience. It’s quite something to behold.”
Telling the story of a former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect global superstar Marron from a dangerous stalker, the musical features many of Houston’s greatest hits including Queen Of The Night, I’m Your Baby Tonight, So Emotional and I Will Always Love You.
Knight, who has sold more than a million albums in the UK making her the perfect candidate for such a role, followed Heather Headley’s Olivier Award nominated appearance in the production and is now, due to the huge demands the role entails, performing evening performances while Joelle Moses takes the spotlight for matinees.
The Bodyguard is currently booking until 30 August at the Adelphi theatre, with original cast member Debbie Kurup remaining as Knight’s on stage sister and former Holby City star Tristan Gemmill as her leading man, Frank Farmer.