Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Review
by Brian Merriman

Presented in association with Tina Turner
Dates: 27 May – 14 June 2025

Just two years ago this week, the iconic rockstar Tina Turner (Tennessee’s Anna Mae Bullock) passed away aged 83. The Queen of Rock’n’Roll was a musical recording and touring legend, breaking through the glass ceiling that confined stardom and power to men, and too often, women only got on stage as part of a double act. Sonny and Cher and Ike and Tina Turner had duo recording successes. Still, when relationships broke down, against the odds, it was the women who shone brighter and endured to captivate generations of music lovers. They broke the mould as well as achieving legendary status.

Turner’s 100 million-selling music catalogue is the envy of many, and it is no surprise that, in an era of compilation or juke box musicals, this catalogue was bound to attract the interest of simply the best. But there is much more to Tina – correctly called the Tina Turner Musical, and that is exactly what it is. The Mountaintop Olivier Award and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Katori Hall tells this biographical story linking 12 of her biggest hits and some fine musical arrangements by Nicholas Skilbeck.

Those expecting a tribute act or a loose dramatic excuse to link tunes together are happily surprised because Turner herself was involved in all elements of this quality production. Not only does her autobiographical story fulfil all the drama required in theatre, but it ensures a production that takes its place beyond a thin compilation musical and into legitimate and very satisfying musical theatre.

The production team is gifted a rich sprinkle of musical theatre talent from mamma Mia director Phyllida Lloyd, legendary choreographer Anthony Van Laast, vibrant musical direction by Sarah Burrell, colourful and spot on period costumes by Mark Thompson and finally lighting that ranged from the psychedelic to dramatic from Bruno Poet, giving us all the ingredients of a great night’s musical theatre entertainment.

The challenge of doing justice to Tina Turner is immense. The expectations were palpable in the buzz in the theatre. It is almost three hours of full-throttle energy and performance. The role is shared for obvious reasons, and tonight we were in for a real treat as (standby) Bree Smith electrified the stage as a singer, actor and dancer. She has endless and exhausting energy and clearly communicated her understanding of and love for the role every moment she graced the stage. To have a standby Tina of this quality is breathtaking. She loved the role and so did we.

David King-Yombo played the thankless role of Ike Turner to great effect. The modern audience reacted vocally to the frequent domestic violence scenes that reflected Turner’s desire to tell her story warts and all.

The female supporting roles were well served vocally and dramatically by Claude East (Gran), Georgia Gillam (Alline), Letitia Hector (Zelma), Gemma Sutton (Rhonda) and a bundle of talented enthusiasm from Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor as young Anna Mae.

The versatile and skilled ensemble was full of vocal talent, most notably a terrific duet from Kyle Richardson (Raymond), whose incredible vocals no doubt will shine in many more major roles. The musicianship of the ensemble was wonderfully enhanced by the excellent band, and it was great to have a chance to see them live on stage at the finale.

There are two elements to this surprisingly good show. There is the well-executed dramatic plot and the essential megamix which bounced off the roof of the theatre, at the end. Both elements stand up, and both are necessary to satisfy the ambitions of a musical theatre-going audience and Turner’s enduring, loyal, vocal fan club.

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical isn’t only surprising as a stage show…many would agree it was ‘simply the best’ of this autobiographical musical genre, developed to take full advantage of an epic catalogue of million-selling hits. As for the story, as Turner herself commented on the show…it turned poison into medicine…and it goes down a treat!

Written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Bree Smith as Tina, David King-Yombo as Ike, Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor as Young Anna
Musical Director: Sarah Burrell
Arrangements by Nicholas Skilbeck
Set and Costume design by Mark Thompson
Choreographer: Anthony Van Laast
Lighting by Bruno Poet
Executive Producers: Tina Turner and Erwin Bach
Duration: almost three hours