Following its five year run which continues in the West End, Tina – The Tina Turner musical has begun the first ever tour which is now playing in the north at Leeds Grand Theatre, having already shown at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal. The idea behind a musical jukebox production of an artist’s career is not a new one; Carole King, Cher and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons have all had the story of their success brought to the stage. None though can be as contrasting, emotional and inspiring as the Tina Turner one.
Tina the musical
Racism, cohesive behaviour, domestic violence and ageism are all aspects that ran throughout her life. Even from a young age Anna Mae Bullock (Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor) experienced the abusive relationship her mother Zelma (Letitia Hector) suffered with her husband Richard (Rushand Chambers)
From being discovered by Ike Turner (David King-Yombo) and performing as a vocalist in his band, the undercurrent of control and domestic abuse was ever present, though thankfully she finds the strength to leave Ike not only from their musical relationship but their sixteen year marriage.
Her songs from throughout her career are sympathetically placed in the musical; it would be unwise to suggest that Al Greens original version of Let’s Stay Together could be bettered, though the interpretation in the first half of the show sung as a duet by Raymond Hill (Kyle Richardson) and the young Tina (Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor) still managed to send a shiver down the spine courtesy of an emotional performance.
With the threat of bankruptcy and now resigned to the Las Vegas Cabaret circuit and now in her early forties she has a renaissance in her career via an Australian music manager and long time fan, Roger Davies (Issac Elder) who hears that Sheffield based musical outfit Heaven 17 want to work with her. The timeline here got slightly out of mix in the show as Turner had previously recorded with them on one of their own albums, though this was the only deviation in what was a riveting and absorbing show.
Romance beckoned again, this time with her new record company marketing manager Erwin Bach (William Beckerleg) a charming and suave German who she later marries.
Her initial reluctance to the new songs offered to her thankfully wanes as the singer becomes more popular than she has ever been culminating in a concert in front of 180,000 fans in Rio de Janeiro. As the on-stage band is revealed for the first time it didn’t take long for the audience to be up in their feet.
Besides the songs – all her big hits are performed, the other stars of the musical are Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi who plays the older Tina and the previously mentioned Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor who both had the voice, mannerisms and legs that make you want to make a double take. Incidentally Turner marked her last ever concert on her 50th anniversary show in Sheffield. In 2009.
This isn’t a tribute show par se, instead a true story of survival, emotions and coming out on top where Tina – The Tina Turner musical excels on all points and remains (Simply) the Best.
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical runs at Leeds Grand Theatre until 4 April
