Tina: the Tina Turner Musical opened at Mayflower Theatre last night to an audience eager to hear a musical medley of her hits, which span almost seven decades.
But this isn’t just a musical jukebox show.
It’s an emotional tale of the abandonment, domestic abuse and racism that Tina suffered, with a nod to her spirituality and Buddhism – which eventually helped give her the strength to leave.
The role of Tina is usually shared by Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy, but last night it was played by alternate, Bree Smith.
And she did not disappoint, performing with real heart and soul as she appeared to morph into the star step-by-step before taking the stage for the finale.
David King-Yombo is brilliant as Ike Turner, depicting the character’s chilling charisma, cruelty, and desperation as he seeks the fame he craves. The young Anna-Mae is played by the captivating Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor, who ensured the audience were smiling from the opening scenes.
And there has to be a special mention for Claude East, who plays Gran Georgeanna (GG). Her rendition of Don’t Turn Around in the first act, as a duet with Bree, was one of my favourite songs – even if I didn’t realise until last night that Tina did, in fact, do it first.
For many people though, it’s the music that will bring them through the doors, and the hits keep rolling from the very start, including, I Can’t Stand The Rain, Proud Mary, We Don’t Need Another Hero, and (Simply) The Best.
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is a show full of energy, that doesn’t shy away from the struggles the artist faced in her life as it celebrates the resilience that saw her succeed in the face of adversity.
She really was unstoppable!
Tickets for Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (on until Saturday 18 October) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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