Joshua-James Thomas, Michael Matias Join THE BODYGUARD as 'Fletcher'

13 year-old Joshua-James Thomas from Harrow and 12 year-old Michael Matias from Leystonstone this month join the cast of the West End hit musical The Bodyguard as the show enters its new booking period. Performing alongside Tony and Grammy Award winner Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen who lead the cast as Rachel Marron and Frank Farmer respectively, Thomas and Matias take on the role of Fletcher, Rachel's young son. They will alternate the role with original cast members 11 year-old Taylor Lockhart and 10 year-old Malaki Paul.

Four times 2013 Laurence Olivier Award nominated The Bodyguard (Best New Musical, Best Actress in a Musical - Heather Headley, Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Debbie Kurup and Best Set Design - Tim Hatley) which opened in December last year, recently announced the release of over 250,000 tickets for sale taking booking at the Adelphi Theatre to 28 September 2013. Directed by Thea Sharrock and based on Lawrence Kasdan's 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film, The Bodyguard has book by Alex Dinelaris. The Bodyguard was recently the recipient of the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best New Musical.

The cast comprises Heather Headley (to 10 August 2013) and Lloyd Owen (to 7 September 2013) alongside Debbie Kurup (Nicki Marron), Mark Letheren (The Stalker), Ray Shell (Bill Devaney), Nicolas Colicos (Tony Scibelli), Mark McKerracher (Herb Farmer), Sean Chapman (Sy Spector), David Page (Rory Fryman) and Oliver Le Sueur (Ray Court). Ensemble members are Nigel Barber, Jordan Darrell, Yasmin Harrison, Shanay Holmes, Holly James, Robert Jezek, Melissa Keyes, Gil Kolirin, Janet Kumah, Nicholas Maude, Richard Murphy, Gloria Onitiri, Ashley J Packer, Dharmesh Patel, Lucinda Shaw, Paul Smethurst, Charlotte Watts and James Wooldridge.

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don't expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a whole host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, I'm Your Baby Tonight, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and one of the greatest hit songs of all time - I Will Always Love You.

Since aged seven, Michael Matias has attended the Carmel Thomas Performing Arts School in Buckhurst Hill, Essex His professional theatre credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Lion King and Oliver! His recording credits include We Will Remember Them (Help the Heroes, 2009) and the calypso solo in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (schools recording).

Joshua-James Thomas currently attends Hatch End High School Performing Arts College. Previously he attended the Barbara Speake Stage School where he achieved the Dance Teachers Association Preliminary: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern Dance, Juvenile Tap and Musical Theatre Syllabus Award stage 1, 2 and 3. His television credits include New Tricks, The Paul O'Grady Show, Tune Attics, The Bill, The Morgana Show, Angry Birds and Goody Goody Gordon in Horrid Henry Movie. The Bodyguard will mark his west end debut.

Taylor Lockhart currently trains at the Dance Factory in Berkshire where he studies dance, drama and singing. He also takes part in regular workshops run by Buttercup Agency and has attended the Sylvia Young Summer School. His theatre credits include The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium 2011). Taylor's hobbies include: gymnastics, swimming and athletics, where he is member of Reading Athletics club. He also plays keyboard.

Malaki Paul attends the Latymere All Saints Primary school in Edmonton, North London. His vocal skills were first noticed when he was around seven years old whilst rehearsing with his church choir.
Performances include: Latymere's Got Talent and a local competition called 'The X-mas Factor' which marked his first big public performance. On television he reached the semi-final stage of Britain's Got Talent

With designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker and video designs by Duncan McLean. Choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan with musical supervision by Mike Dixon. The Bodyguard is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.