Review by Gareth Hides
**** four stars “it is the best of Tina”
Kicking off its UK tour in style, the award-winning Tina: The Tina Turner Musical rolls into the Curve Theatre in Leicester. Tina tells the story of the eponymous rock ’n’ roll superstar and her rise to fame. Directed by the acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia), the production heads out on its maiden UK tour whilst still going strong at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End since its world premiere in 2018.
The show opens with Tina (the role is shared by Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy) preparing to go onstage before one of her concerts. The audience is then transported back in time to her humble beginnings as Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee. Her father (Rushand Chambers) is a preacher who beats his wife (Letitia Hector) which ultimately drives the family apart. Her mother leaves, taking Anna Mae’s sister (Georgia Gillam) with her and leaving Anna Mae to be brought up by her grandmother, ‘GG’ (Claude East). This theme of domestic violence and abuse runs throughout Act 1 in particular and intensifies once we meet Anna Mae’s future husband, the controlling Ike Turner (David King-Yombo). The portrayal of violence is uncomfortable and fairly sickening to watch. Ike realises Anna Mae’s talent and quickly rechristen’s her ‘Tina Turner’. As Ike takes Tina and their band on tour, we see them face racism in the American South.
The score strings together many of Tina Turners biggest hits (her Bond theme, “Goldeneye,” is notably absent) and has the audience clapping and, by the end, dancing along. The book, by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, packs a punch and is strong particularly in Act 1. The pace of the piece dragged a little after the interval and lacked some clarity, particularly the reasons for Tina’s mother rejecting her which appeared to be addressed in the hospital room scene but in truth were muddied.
The cast were all excellent. Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy’s Tina was incredible. Her vocal performance was flawless and she manages to capture the charisma and charm of Turner without it being an impersonation. One tragic moment which Ohene MacCarthy played so well was towards the end of the first half where she is pleading for a motel room, bloodied and bruised from her latest battering by Ike. Other notable performances were David King-Yombo as the toxic Ike Turner and Isaac Elder as the architect of Tina’s reinvention, Roger Davies. The young performers in the production were all excellent.
Mark Thompson’s set is fairly sparse and is complemented well by Jeff Sugg’s dynamic projection design. Some particularly strong moments for the projection design that stood out were the use of sound waves on the back wall and the portrayal of a busy highway/street as Tina finally flees from Ike’s brutality. A great moment for the set was towards the end, before the ‘megamix’ moment, when the LED screen wall was flown up to reveal the onstage live band which really gave the sense of us being at one of Tina’s concerts.
Whether or not you’re a fan of Tina Turner, or jukebox musicals in general, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical offers a powerful, fun, yet harrowing night at the theatre. The audience were on their feet enjoying some great music and great performances. Get your tickets today before it leaves Leicester later this month - or book for when it rolls in to a theatre near you later in the year!
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