Gqeberha-born solo star wins lead role in ‘The Bodyguard’

Performer Belinda Davids has been cast as Rachel Marron, the lead role in The Bodyguard, the international musical making its South African premiere at Artscape in Cape Town March next year.

Born in Gqeberha, she moves from a successful solo career into her first musical-theatre role. She has toured the world in The Greatest Love of All, a Whitney Houston tribute show, and her four-octave vocal range has drawn frequent comparisons to Houston.

From tribute shows to the stage

In 2020, Davids reached the finals of series 14 of Britain’s Got Talent. Before her audition, Simon Cowell told her that filling Houston’s shoes would be tough. She performed “One Moment in Time” to a standing ovation, with Cowell calling it “the audition we’d been waiting for all season”.

She received similar acclaim in 2023, earning a Golden Buzzer on Got Talent: All-Stars in Spain and advancing to the final in a moment broadcast across Europe.

The show

The Bodyguard follows superstar singer Rachel Marron and Frank Farmer, the bodyguard hired to protect her, as fame, danger and romance collide. The production features Houston hits including “I Will Always Love You”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, “Queen of the Night”, “I Have Nothing”, “Run to You” and “So Emotional”.

The musical opens at Artscape on 12 March before transferring to the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg from 24 April. Davids will be supported by an all-South African cast, crew and band, with details to be announced.

ALSO READ: The Bodyguard musical to make its SA debut at Artscape in March 2027

A wonderful blessing

“I have loved Whitney Houston since I was a child, so to have this new opportunity and fresh, exciting challenge is a wonderful blessing,” Davids said. “I’m so grateful.”

Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management said the role is vocally demanding and that Davids has built a worldwide reputation for matching Houston’s power. “And the rest of the cast is just as exciting; watch this space!”

Showtime Management has previously brought Pretty Woman: The Musical to South African audiences. The company is currently staging Mamma Mia!, which runs in Cape Town until 11 October before an extended season at the Teatro at Montecasino from 16 October.

The film behind the musical

The 1992 film The Bodyguard, starring Houston opposite Kevin Costner, was among the highest-grossing films of that year. Its soundtrack sold 45 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling soundtrack album ever, and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. “I Have Nothing” and “Run to You” were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Tickets and discounts

Early Bird specials offer a 20% discount for performances on Wednesday 17 March and Thursday 18 March at Artscape, and Wednesday 28 April and Thursday 29 April at the Teatro at Montecasino. Maximum six tickets per customer. Early Bird tickets are available until 31 October 2026.

Only tickets purchased through Ticketmaster will be honoured. A 20% block booking discount is available for groups of 20 or more on selected shows and price categories. Contact sales@showtime.co.za. Terrific Tuesday discounts are also available. Terms and conditions apply.

The production carries a PG rating (12+) for adult themes, language and content.

Book tickets at Ticketmaster.

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