Reviewed by Beth
Experience the heart-wrenching, inspiring story of Tina Turner, brought to life by the sparkling cast of Tina the musical on a tour of the UK this summer! If you’re after a night of glitz, glamour and a touch of a tear jerker, this is the hot ticket to a perfect night out.
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| Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy (Tina Turner). Photo by Johan Persson. |
When her loving grandmother sees her vivid potential with her stand-out voice, she sends her away to live back with her mother and sister. Tina’s relationship with her grandmother is touching and shows a rare moment of warmth towards her in her early life.
When out on the town with her sister, Anna Mae meets the infamous Ike Turner, who has already made a name for himself in the rock and roll world. He is instantly drawn in by her captivating voice and young naivety and convinces Anna Mae’s mother to allow him to take her on the road; hence the Ike and Tina Turner Revue is born.
The group rise to fame, but not without their fair share of adversity from turbulent dynamics to open acts of racism and fear. As Tina becomes closer to a fellow bandmate, though, Ike grows jealous and proposes to her and a whole new journey begins for Ike and Tina. One that, as fans of Tina’s will know, only brings its own heartache, violence and entrapment. By the end of Act 1, Tina is on her knees and desperate to break away from Ike’s grip and control. Act one builds to a dramatic conclusion, with Jochebel Ohene Maccarthey’s INSANE vocals leading to a standing ovation and cheers from the audience from many before the show’s true end.
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| Dave Yates (Guitar) and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy (Tina Turner). Photo by Johan Persson |
In Act Two, we see Tina brush herself off and begin again, carving a new path for herself including a recording trip in London, and once again fight to control
her own destiny. In Act Two, Tina becomes a power house and no longer accepts the maltreatment she was once dealt. Yes, she faces more and more adversity and yes, demons from her past come to haunt her, but her audience is totally on side and willing her to achieve
greatness. In the show’s final scene and curtain call, we are treated to a miniature Tina concert which was so well-received; every audience member was up on their feet and dancing along!
her own destiny. In Act Two, Tina becomes a power house and no longer accepts the maltreatment she was once dealt. Yes, she faces more and more adversity and yes, demons from her past come to haunt her, but her audience is totally on side and willing her to achieve
greatness. In the show’s final scene and curtain call, we are treated to a miniature Tina concert which was so well-received; every audience member was up on their feet and dancing along!
Whilst Tina Turner’s story was always going to make for a moving plot, the performances of this show were what made it truly inspiring. Jochebel Ohene Maccarthey was our Tina; perfect in her mannerisms, vocals and commanding stage presence. She curated the perfect move from naive, young singer, to struggling wife and victim, to strong, fierce icon with absolute power and nuance and to see the journey she went on was moving; she simply WAS Tina. Speaking of outstanding, our young Tina was played by Sophia St Louis; a name I am sure we will be hearing in the musical theatre world for years to come. For such a young girl, she had insane pipes with a voice that filled that theatre and lit up the crowd; their duet at the end of the show illicit an ear-shattering
response! Other stand out performances for me came from Rushand Chambers as the evil Ike Turner (you know you’ve done a good job as a villain when you get booed at the end!) and conversely Sedona Sky as the sweet and hilarious Alline Bullock (amongst other parts). But amongst the cast there was not a single weak link, performing the songs you know and love with new story, heart and amazing vocals.
A big shout out to the creative team for putting together such a show! The costume and hair design transported you back through the sixties, seventies and eighties, with every iconic Tina Turner look you know and love captured.
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| Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy (Tina) and Company. Photo by Johan Persson |
Of course, the music is at the heart of this show, played and delivered perfectly by the band.
I truly believe that this show is a belter for both die-hard Tina fans and a generation new to her music. Her story is inspiring and the way it has been captured by this current cast is simply the best! With a well-behaved audience (please save your singing for our joyous concert finale!), you are in for a treat.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tina is playing at Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 2 August and tickets are available from
https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/tina-the-musical/
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