Tina: The Tina Turner Musical- Aldwych Theatre

A powerful whistle stop tour of the life and times of the Queen of Rock and Roll herself, from humble Nutbush Baptist beginnings to staging the greatest comeback of all time, Tina is easily one of the best jukebox musicals of all time.

An effective jukebox musical needs to main ingredients to stand out in a highly saturated market, an exceptional leading performer to carry the show and a strong and insightful book chronicling the story of a public figure's life- and Tina does both of those things brilliantly. It manages to both sensitively yet accurately portray the turbulent life of the legend, from her poor beginnings, to her abusive marriage to Ike, to her battle to establish herself as the solo superstar that she is known as today, without becoming sensationalist or wading in self pity. At times it was a very difficult watch, particularly during the scenes between Ike and Tina however the raw and chilling feel developed during their fights throughout the first act was clearly deliberately orchestrated through clever blocking to be uncomfortable for the viewer to really put things into perspective and communicate the reality behind the rising star.

The attention to detail throughout the show was second to none, especially where costuming and wardrobe were concerned. Perfectly capturing the ever changing styles over the decades from 1940s Tennessee to the recording- breaking Brazil concert in the 80s, no expense was spared in capturing Tina's evolving personas in a visually dazzling spectacle.

But the real star of this show was the front woman herself, Karis Anderson. She fully encapsulated the powerhouse vocals, unique performance style and high energy choreography that catapulted Tina to superstardom. For one of theatre's most physically and vocally demanding roles, Anderson draws on an incredible inner strength and stamina in order to capture the audience's undivided attention from the minute the curtain raises to the moment it falls.

Now booking until May 2025, this emotional rollercoaster of exceptional music and storytelling is an absolutely fitting legacy for an icon who will live on as 'simply the best'.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐