West End hit TINA - The Tina Turner Musical, is on its first ever UK & Ireland tour and lucky for us, on the 25th November, it started in Manchester.
Last night, our mother-daughter date quickly turned into an unforgettable evening.
As soon as the curtain lifted, the emotion and energy started. The powerful story telling of Tina Turner’s life, a difficult journey that certainly I was unaware of, captivated us all. The musical follows Tina from her humble beginnings in Tennessee to her rise in becoming a musical legend but it wasn’t an easy path. We had a rollercoaster of emotions throughout, thanks to the phenomenal acting of the cast. There were gasps, there were cheers and sometimes nearly a tear but the energy in the theatre was something I’ve not felt in a long time.
Tina, played by Elle Ma-Kinga N’zuzi, really was breathtaking. Elle’s powerhouse of a voice, her moves and fierce acting made us feel like we were watching the Tina Turner. Elle effortlessly captured Tina’s determination and resilience and the audience fell in love with her from the moment we saw her up on that stage.
All of the cast members were truly talented but the two we couldn’t get out of our minds were young Anna Mae and Ike. Young Anna Mae was a confident, young talent and she stole our hearts from the get go with her voice and storytelling.
Ike, played by David King-Yombo, on the other hand, truly divided the room. David’s performance was so convincing that we didn’t know whether to boo or cheer him during the final ovation. He was confident, tense and even sometimes charming and although at parts it was a difficult watch, his character was a crucial part of the show because it showed us just how hard Tina Turner fought to become the icon that the world knows her to be today.
During the final numbers, the energy was electric. Everyone was on their feet clapping, dancing and reminiscing to the fantastic work of the orchestra, but it didn’t stop there. Oxford Road was buzzing afterwards. Everyone had something to say about how truly magical the show was. We weren't ready to call it a night. “That’s the best show I’ve ever seen” was something I heard on more than one occasion.
If you get the chance, you must go! Lucky for you, TINA is showing at the Palace Theatre until Saturday, 3rd January 2026. Find your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/tina-the-tina-turner-musical/palace-theatre-manchester/ As someone who didn’t know much about Tina Turner before watching the biographical musical, I think I’m ready to buy my second ticket… 
