Most people know Kip Gamblin from his many acting roles in television dramas such as Home and Away, Neighbours and Dance Academy. However, dancers know him from his time as an important member of the Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company before his good looks were snapped up by the film world. Now he returns to the stage in a role that combines those skills – in the title role of The Bodyguard.
The Bodyguard is a musical adapted from the 1992 film. It opened in 2012 in the West End in London. Since then it has toured internationally and will reach our shores on April 21 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. Gamblin plays Frank Farmer, a Secret Service agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect superstar singer Rachel Marron (played by Paulini) from an unknown stalker.
The musical was originally choreographed by Karen Bruce. The resident choreographer in Australia is Amy Campbell. The cast of 26 includes nine dancers: Sasha Lian, Samantha Bruzzese, Priscillar Stavrou, Olivia Cariniato, Chris Van Doren, Samuel McKeown II, Anthony Bartley and Maxwell Trengrove with swings Amy Campbell, Heath Keating, Blake Varga, Bree Langridge, and Geofferey Winter.
After its Sydney season The Bodyguard will tour on to the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane from 19 July and the Regent Theatre, Melbourne from 24 August.
Pictured: Kip Gamblin and Paulini in their roles in The Bodyguard.