Editor’s Note : With the announcement of Tina Turner’s death this morning at the age of 83 in Switzerland after a long illness, there is even more reason to see this great production which is currently playing the Theatre Royal.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL has just opened in Sydney, and the hype that came with it, on this occasion, is well deserved.

This musical, which Tina Turner not only authorised but in which she actively contributed to, was first performed in London, at the Aldwych Theatre, in 2018.

The show covers the period from Tina’s early childhood in Nutbush Tennessee to the point in time when her solo career really took off. As Tina is quoted in the program, “this show is not about my stardom, this is about the journey that I took to get there.”

And what a bumpy ride, with lots of highs and lows.We find out that Tina was born Anna Mae Bullock and that her brilliant and unique singing talent can be traced back to her childhood singing loudly in the local community church choir. She had a difficult start to life with her parents splitting up, which saw her mother leave with her older sister, Alline, and she was taken to live with her grandmother, who did give her the love and support that she needed.

Tina’s lowest points were in relation to her marriage to her musical partner Ike Turner which was physically and emotionally abusive, and took the longest time, and a huge emotional toll, for her to extract herself from. The show is confronting in tackling the subject.

When she finally broke free of the musical partnership and marriage, she then had to wage one hell of a battle establishing herself as a solo artist because of the racism and sexism that existed at the time.

Ruva Ngwenya was just fantastic as Tina. She had great stage presence and her acting and singing was first rate. Favourite numbers that she belted out were ‘Nutbush City Limits (which Tina wrote herself), ‘River Deep Mountain High’, ‘Private Dancer’, ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’, ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’, ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero’ and ‘Simply The Best’.

The other principal cast were excellent; Tim Omaji as her husband Ike Turner. Ibinaho Jack as Tina’s mother, Zelma Bullock, Tendai Rinomhota as Tina’s grandmother Gran Georgeanna who raised her after her parents split, and Nadia Komazec as Rhonda Graam, Tina’s manager and sister figure.

In the supporting cast, Mat Verevis who plays Roger Davies, Tina’s very capable new manager who is a young Australian music producer, John O’Hara as the eccentric music producer Phil Spector, who with his own particular his famous ‘Wall Of Sound’ music style, recorded Tina solo with her brilliant version of ‘River Deep Mountain High’, were the stand-outs.

My favourite scene, which had a bit of everything, was the scene where Tina’s mum Zelma Bullock, played by Jochebel Ohene McCarthy, lay dying in hospital and Tina came back from being on the road to visit her Tina expressed sorrow that she now had a brilliant career she felt that hermum had never really supported her.Her mum didn’t apologise. Instead into the hospital room walks Ike who had developed a close relationship with Zelma, making the hospital visit even more awkward for Tina.

Phyllida Lloyd directed the show with chief amongst her creative team being MarkThompson as the set and costume designer, Nevin Steinberg the sound designer, Bruno Poet the lighting designer and Anthony Van Laast as the choreographer

A ten piece band, with co Music Directors Christina Polinos and Chris King, provided great musical backing for the cast.

The audience loved it, especially the women who see as a great role model and much more than another hero.

TINA : THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, with book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketalaar and Kees Prine, is currently playing the Theatre Royal with a new release of tickets selling through to 22nd October 2023.

Photography is by Ben Apfelbaum.

INFO – https://www.tinathemusical.com.au/