Review: TINA - The Tina Turner Musical (Birmingham Hippodrome / UK & Ireland tour)

Review by Clancy Haynes

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My parents had vastly different music tastes. They were both born in 1940 and were just on the cusp of the generation who would go on to embrace the new rock and roll. While my mother had an eclectic taste, ranging from ABBA to Julio Iglesias, she veered towards a younger, more modern style. Dad, however, loved country and western, The Eagles and Dire Straits, never really to be pushed from this fairly narrow range. There was one place, though, where their musical tastes met and that was a mutual enjoyment of Tina Turner. Mum loved her gravelly voice, strutting dance moves and catchy tunes, and Dad, though he would never admit it, basically liked watching her dance about in sexy, shimmering outfits. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t? That’s the Tina Turner we all know, but as I found out watching TINA – The Tina Turner Musical at Birmingham’s Hippodrome this week, there was far more to her story than I knew.

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, talent. After opening in the West End in 2018, this is the first UK and Ireland tour and did not disappoint the audience I watched it with. At its core, Tina is a story of survival. It begins with what looks like is going to be a performance of one of her most famous songs, but fades into the past, with Anna Mae Bullock (Turner’s birth name) showing an early talent for singing in her church. She moves to St Louis in her late teens and meets Ike Turner, the man who will make her a star. Together, they make soulful music and rise in fame. The story of their marriage is well known, and the show does not shy away from the abuse Tina suffered at the hands of her husband. These scenes are difficult to watch but incredibly well performed. After splitting from Ike, Turner struggles to find an outlet or support for her new sound and style until she meets a producer with a good ear and they are willing to take a chance on each other. A star is (re)born.

Ella Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy are sharing the titular role during the tour. At the performance I saw, MacCarthy stepped into the wigs and high heels with a performance that took my breath away. She embodied the character, not only with the voice and movements (which were spot on), but with heart and soul, meaning that this portrayal was so much more than a caricature. Her chemistry with David-King Yombo, as Ike Turner, was intriguing and added a layer of complexity to what could appear to be a tired, generic portrayal of an abusive marriage.

MacCarthy's portrayal of Tina’s weariness and seeming submission over Ike’s affairs, his jealousy of her talent, his horrific, abusive nature, could be seen as one dimensional, but with this comes a steely determination to succeed. This, and her own disjointed family experience goes a long way to providing context in why she stayed with Ike for so long. The moment where Tina fights back (both physically and mentally) was met with cheers, whoops and shouts of, “Get him, love!” by the audience and while I didn’t agree with this lack of theatre etiquette, I quite agreed with the sentiment. MacCarthy moved me on many occasions during the show and is an absolute star in her own right.

David King-Yombo has the incredibly challenging task of bringing Ike Turner to life. This is a man who beat his own wife and children, had many affairs and controlled their finances with an iron fist. There’s really nothing to like. King-Yombo is mesmerising in the role of Ike, easily demonstrating how his charismatic charm could lure you in before a chilling, brutal change of personality reveals his true character. His scenes with MacCarthy were incredibly emotionally charged and there were several times when I was on the edge of my seat, with my heart in my mouth. It was such a shame to hear him booed during the curtain call, like some pantomime villain, when his performance was so much more than that. The rest of the cast were superb as well, with an excellent ensemble showing the passing of time with their period perfect wigs and costumes. A special mention must go to Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor, who played young Anna Mae Bullock with a lively, confident performance and a fantastic sounding voice. A superstar in the making!

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the production is mostly well paced. It can, at times, feel as if it is a series of events that don’t always flow into each other as well as they could. This can often be the case in a jukebox musical, I’ve found, where well known songs are sometimes shoehorned into underscore key emotional events, but they were very rare and definitely didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. Set design is clever and effective and the use of projections to portray different cities and moods was captivating. Lighting design was stand out, with the dim, dull realities of Tina’s early life making way to the more colourful clubs and finally, the explosion of light in the concert scenes. The show looked amazing and was a feast for the eyes.

Of course, this is a musical, and we were there to hear the hits of Tina Turner. All her iconic songs were there and were used effectively to move the narrative along. Highlights for me were ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ produced by an uncanny Phil Spector (played by Martin Allanson) and his Wall of Sound, and ‘Proud Mary,’ which began so rousingly and ending in such heartbreak. ‘(Simply) The Best’ was teased several times throughout the musical, with the bass line thumping during some key moments and the audience practically salivating in anticipation. When it finally arrived, the audience were not disappointed as MacCarthy went full Tina and made you feel as if you were at a concert watching the woman herself. It was a joyous experience and a particularly cathartic one after the difficult, emotional journey we had all been on together.

TINA - The Tina Turner Musical is a fabulous experience. Whether you are a fan of Tina or not, you will be hard pressed not to be moved by this rags to riches story of a strong woman who overcame domestic abuse, sexism, racism, and ageism to become a superstar. It’s an experience that entertains, enlightens and empowers. It’s not just a night out at the theatre, it’s a celebration of survival, strength and the enduring power of rock and roll and I can’t help but think how much my Tina loving parents would have enjoyed it.

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is on at the Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 28th June 2025.

For tickets and information visit https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/tina/