[1] The show began previews at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End, on 6 November 2012, and officially opened on 5 December 2012.

[4][5][6][7] The show is written by Alexander Dinelaris, produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian[8] directed by Thea Sharrock, set and costumes are designed by Tim Hatley, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker, video projection by Duncan McLean,[9] choreography by Arthur Pita,[10] musical supervision and vocal arrangements by Mike Dixon and musical arrangements, orchestrations and underscore by Chris Egan.

[12] The script adapted from the original screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan[13] also expands the role of Rachel Marron's sister Nicki.

After the final bows, the entire cast returns on stage to perform a spectacular rendition of the song "I Wanna Dance With Somebody".

The Bodyguard's premiere production opened in London's West End on 5 December 2012, following previews at the Adelphi Theatre from 6 November 2012.

Headley departed the show at the start of August[23] with her alternate Gloria Onitiri[24] taking over the role short term until 7 September 2013.

[25] From 9 September the show's first major cast change took place with soul artist Beverley Knight taking over the role of Rachel Marron and Tristan Gemmill as Frank Farmer.

[34] Commenting on the closure, producer Michael Harrison said, "We always knew we would have to leave the Adelphi to make way for another show and we looked at length for an alternative theatre as the business has been phenomenal.

[36] The tour visited Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Bradford, Cardiff, Plymouth, Dublin, Bristol, Birmingham, Southend, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield, Oxford, Manchester, and Eastbourne.

After Zoe Birkett left the production, singer Carole Stennett played Rachel Marron at the matinee performances for the remainder of the tour.

[41] Singer Romy Monteiro, who competed in the 2014 season of The Voice of Holland, was cast as Rachel Marron,[42] with the role of Frank Farmer shared by Dutch actors Mark van Eeuwen and Dave Mantel.

[citation needed] The other main cast included former Nickelodeon presenter Patrick Martens and actor Ferry Doedens alternating the role of Sy Spector, Ruurt de Maesschalck and Mike Ho Sam Sooi alternating as Bill Devaney, model and actor Bram Blankestijn as The Stalker, Zjon Smaal as Tony Scibelli and Robbert van den Bergh as Ray Court (who, in this version, was slightly based on the character Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds).

Jürgen Fischer and alternately Jadran Malkovich portray Frank Farmer, and South African actress Tertia Botha plays Nicky Marron.

The other main cast includes American musical actor Dennis Kozeluh as Bill Devaney, Jadran Malkovich as Sy Spector (Carsten Lepper is taking over as Sy Spector from March 2017), Tom Viehöfer as The Stalker, Christian Peter Hauser as Tony Scibelli and Michael Clauder as Ray Court.

[48] On 15 May 2015, producers announced that the show would make its North American Debut in the Fall of 2016 at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey for previews.

The National Tour would launch from the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis and would star Grammy-nominated singer Deborah Cox as Rachel Marron, and Judson Mills as Frank Farmer.

Lee Jong Hyuk and Park Sung Woong portray Frank Farmer and Choi Hyun Sun plays Nicki Marron.

The other main cast includes Han Dong Gyu as Bill Devaney, Lim Ki Hong as Sy Spector, Lee Yool The Stalker, Jeon Jae Hyeon as Tony Scibelli and Kim Dae Ryeong as Ray Court.

The Australian tour of the musical began in Sydney on 21 April 2017 at the Lyric Theatre, then moved on to Brisbane in July and Melbourne in August.

[55] On 30 June 2017 an English language five-month China tour launched at the Shanghai Culture Square, with Carole Stennett as Rachel Marron and Stuart Reid as Frank Farmer.

The show was produced by Stage Entertainment and starred Fela Domínguez as Rachel Marron, Iván Sánchez and Maxi Iglesias alternating as Frank Farmer, Damaris Martínez as Nicki Marron, Armando Buika as Bill Devaney, Alberto Cañas as Tony Scibelli, Juan Bey as Sy Spector, Javier Martínez as Ray Court, and Dani Tatay as the stalker (Tatay also played Frank Farmer when Maxi Iglesias left the company in January 2018).

German actor Jo Weil as Frank Farmer joined Patricia Meeden (from the Cologne production) as Rachel Marron at the Ronacher Theatre in Vienna, running from 27 September 2018 until summer of 2019.

[59][60] A second UK and Ireland tour started on 3 December 2018 at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, with Alexandra Burke as Rachel Marron and Benoît Maréchal as Frank Farmer.

[62] The tour reopened on 27 November 2021 at the Teatre Coliseum in Barcelona and played its final performance on 12 March 2023 at the Teatro Circo in Albacete.

The Bodyguard was the opening show for the new Music Theatre Adria in Koszalin with the lead roles played by Filip Łach as Frank Farmer and Magdalena Łoś Wojcieszek as Rachel Marron.

The other main cast included Urszula Laudańska as Nikki Marron, Daniel Klusek as Bill Devaney, Paweł Nowicki as Sy Spector and Leszek Andrzej Czerwiński as The Stalker.

[64] A third UK and Ireland tour kicked off on 28 January 2023 at the King's Theatre, Glasgow, starring Melody Thornton as Rachel Marron and Ayden Callaghan as Frank Farmer.

[66][67] The following day, a performance of the show was cut short after several audience members refused to stop singing and were removed from the theatre by security staff.

Paul Coltas of Time Out opens his critique on a positive: "There is surely an excruciatingly tacky musical adaptation of the Whitney Houston-starring romantic thriller 'The Bodyguard' to be made.

"[81] Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph echoes Coltas’ initial reservations in the opening of his review but ultimately praises the director's work (Thea Sharrock), saying "Her production, spectacularly and ingeniously designed by Tim Hatley, is far more enjoyable than the movie.