I grew up listening to Tina Turner. In the eighties there was not a car journey, party or Sunday house clean that did not have one of her hits blasting out while my mum pushed the hoover around. I thought I knew exactly who this powerhouse performer was.
So to say I left the Wales Millennium Centre with a completely different understanding of Tina Turner would be an understatement.
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is more than a jukebox celebration of a musical icon – it’s a moving and at times heartbreaking journey of prejudice, abuse, racism, resilience and, above all this long legs and smash hit voice.
What I had never truly grasped was the scale of the trauma she endured. The musical does not shy away from the hardship of her childhood, the racism she faced growing up in early America, the rejection from her mother, or the brutal abuse she suffered at the hands of Ike Turner.
A major part of that emotional impact comes from David King-Yombo, who has the incredibly challenging task of bringing Ike Turner to life. This is not a character audiences are meant to like. He is controlling, abusive and deeply flawed. King-Yombo delivers a performance that is unsettling, powerful and completely convincing. He looks the part, captures Ike’s volatility and plays a crucial role in portraying the darker chapters of Tina’s life.
and the years where she struggled without a record deal. It is a story that goes far deeper than the glittering stage persona most people know.
major part of that emotional impact comes from David King-Yombo, who has the incredibly challenging task of bringing Ike Turner to life. This is not a character audiences are meant to like. He is controlling, abusive and deeply flawed. King-Yombo delivers a performance that is unsettling, powerful and completely convincing. He looks the part, captures Ike’s volatility and plays a crucial role in showing the darker chapters of Tina’s life
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical charts her journey from a young girl in Tennessee to becoming a global icon admired by legends like David Bowie. It could easily have been just another jukebox show packed with familiar hits, but instead it tells her story in a way that makes you root for her at every step, even when you know the success is coming.
The production captures both the pain and the triumph with real power. The staging is slick, the transitions between scenes are seamless, and the opening riffs of her songs are used brilliantly to build anticipation. Every performance feels driven by the same unstoppable energy that defined Tina herself.
N’Zuzi as Tina Turner
The standout performance comes from Elle Ma-King N’zui, who plays Tina with astonishing intensity. She captures the physicality, the legs, the voice and the emotional depth so convincingly that some scenes are genuinely hard to watch, particularly during the darker moments of Tina’s life. Yet she also delivers the joy and strength that made Tina such a magnetic performer. Her final climb up the steps towards her comeback world tour, leading into Simply the Best, is an incredibly proud and moving moment.
There are lighter touches too, with Tina’s sister providing welcome humour that balances the heavier themes, and the ensemble bringing vibrant energy and toe pointing perfection to every musical number.
Whether you’re a lifelong Tina fan or not, it’s hard not to be moved by the story of a woman who rose from hardship to global stardom, overcoming domestic abuse, sexism, racism and ageism along the way.
It’s a show that entertains, informs and uplifts in equal measure. More than just a night at the theatre, it feels like a powerful tribute to resilience, determination and the lasting spirit of rock and roll. More than anything, it leaves you with a deep admiration for a woman who refused to be defeated , never gave up and went on to become one of the greatest performers of all time.
I’m so glad Tina Turner was alive to see this musical when it was first created and gave it her full approval, which adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story being told.
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is at the Wales Millennium Centre until the 28th February . It is close to sold out, but if you can find a ticket, grab it. It really is Simply the Best!
