The Tina Turner Musical at the QPAC

Lyric Theatre, QPAC BRISBANE

2 July to 23 August 2024

 

Dr Gemma Regan

 

An Entertaining, Dynamic and Dramatic testament to the Queen of Rock

 

Drop what you’re doing and enjoy a spectacular night on the soul train with the life story of the legendary Queen of Rock, Tina Turner. Learn why she is “Simply the Best” after channeling her love of gospel as little Annie Mae and overcoming her poor roots in Nutbush and an abusive marriage to Ike Turner to become an idol for every woman.

 

It is part rock concert and part drama as her story unfolds with a talented cast and an incredible performance from Aussie Ruva Ngwenya who won the 2023 Marie Claire Woman of the Year Rising Star award. After opening at the Aldwych Theatre in London in 2018 the high-octane musical has gained 37 international nominations including the Tony and Olivier Awards.

 

The show crackles with energy and passion as Tina Turner rallies against all odds and stereotypes to become a global music phenomenon in her forties after two sons and a controlling relationship drove her to the brink. 

 

The Tina Turner Musical had Tina Turner as one of the creative team, produced by Paul Dainty AO/TEG DAINTY with Stage Entertainment taking you from an abusive childhood through relationships and performances until Phil Spector’s River’s Deep Mountain High finally shone the limelight on her unique voice and passion for singing.

 

It features 23 of her hit songs including, Simply The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It, River Deep Mountain High and Proud Mary. Culminating in the Aussie fave Nutbush City Limits, where you can all dance along. By the end, everyone was boogying away, remembering the steps of the notorious Nutbush dance, a must at all weddings and functions throughout Australia.

 

The large multi talented cast are energiser bunnies bouncing around as both characters and supporting dancers. John O’Hara as Phil Specter is hilarious, with a terrible wig and dramatic pauses between his slimy comments. American Giovanni Adams is the hateful Ike Turner. He plays the smooth cat and does a great job of getting the audience’s hackles up when he berates and punishes Turner.

 

The Melbourne year 7 student Sienna, is the young Annie Mae (Tina Turner), thoroughly enjoying her first experience in a professional musical. She has a stunning voice and sparkling charisma and is someone to watch out for in the near future. 

 

There are many wigs, glittering costumes and a live touring band to complete the glitz and glamour of an upmarket musical. When it was showing at the Theatre Royal in Sydney, it was the longest-running production since the venue’s reopening and broke all sales records, ending with a standing ovation at every show!

The Tina Turner Musical is a must-see for anyone who enjoys soul, rock or musical theatre and is a brilliant night out to let your hair down and party with the late Queen of Soul, Tina Turner!