TINA: The Tina Turner Musical ★★★★

Is there another performer quite as iconic as Tina Turner? Her fearlessness, her energy, her unique style of dress and dance mark her out before you even hear her extraordinary vocals – an absolute powerhouse – and yet, in many ways, one whose life story is anything but enviable. Perhaps this too is what makes her story fascinating – the darkness she had to endure, contrasting so vividly with the colour of her music.

Thrilling the audience at Leeds Grand this week, Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi totally embodies Tina Turner and brings her so vividly to life that it’s almost impossible to imagine that she isn’t, in fact, the real deal.

The show opens with Anna-Mae Bullock, the child version of the star in waiting, wowing the congregation with her voice whilst simultaneously shaming her conservative and uptight parents. This leads to her first devastating abandonment, when her mother leaves, taking her sister with her. When, several years later, they are reunited, it is her sister who provides the catalyst for the beginning of her career as well as the first meeting with Ike Turner.

Scenes between Ike and Tina are notorious and hard to watch. His bullying and violent outbursts towards her are the defining features of their relationship. David King-Yombo plays Ike, making him as cold and unyielding as the original. Even when, or perhaps especially when, some of his challenging childhood is explained, it is almost impossible to feel any sympathy.

Throughout Phyllida Lloyd’s large-scale production, it is, of course, the music which defines it, and Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi’s voice never wavers, never giving less than a high-octane performance. Her stature and strutting dance too perfectly capture Tina Turner’s unique style. At times, however, it can be very challenging to hear the dialogue, and whilst the raw emotions are never in doubt, the diction is.

TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is an absolute crowd pleaser, showcasing this brilliant artist’s range and vocal strength. The supporting cast, costumes and staging add great value, and huge credit must also be given to the band, revealed at the end when the audience is urged to their feet.