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Tina – The Tina Turner Musical: A West End Triumph

"Tina – The Tina Turner Musical" premiered in London’s West End at the Aldwych Theatre on March 21, 2018, with its official opening on April 17, launching a record-breaking run now in its seventh year as of March 2025. Written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, and produced by Stage Entertainment with Tina Turner as executive producer, it’s booking through October 25, 2025. Featuring Turner’s iconic hits, this jukebox musical born from a 2016 workshop attended by Turner has drawn over 2 million visitors, making it the theatre’s longest-running show. With global productions in eight cities and a 2025 UK tour underway, it’s a testament to Turner’s enduring legacy, amplified by its 2019 Broadway debut and 12 Tony nominations.

A Journey from Nutbush to Stardom

The story traces Anna Mae Bullock’s transformation into Tina Turner, beginning in 1950s Nutbush, Tennessee, where young Anna Mae sings at church, clashing with her mother Zelma’s disapproval. Discovered by Ike Turner, she joins his Kings of Rhythm, becoming “Tina” in the Ike and Tina Turner Revue amid a volatile, abusive marriage. After escaping Ike in 1976, Tina rebuilds her career facing racism and ageism guided by manager Roger Davies and a pivotal meeting with Erwin Bach in London. Her 1980s reinvention as a solo rock ‘n’ roll titan culminates in hits like “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” framing a tale of resilience over adversity, ending with a roof-raising concert finale that celebrates her triumph.

A Pulse-Pounding Soundtrack

The score pulses with Tina Turner’s catalog, from “Nutbush City Limits” and “River Deep – Mountain High” to “Proud Mary” and “The Best,” orchestrated by Ethan Popp under Nicholas Skilbeck’s supervision. Early revue numbers like “A Fool in Love” shift to solo anthems like “Private Dancer” and “Better Be Good to Me,” with “Disco Inferno” and “Open Arms” weaving in narrative turns. The 2018 London cast recording captures Adrienne Warren’s Olivier-nominated turn as Tina, while the show tweaks chronology for crowd-pleasing impact solo hits pepper the arc, not just the end. Anthony van Laast’s choreography electrifies, earning praise as “slick” (The Telegraph), driving a production that’s “life-affirming” (Hollywood Reporter).

A Cast of Powerhouse Performers

The original 2018 cast starred Adrienne Warren as Tina, earning her a Tony for the Broadway run, with Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Ike. The current 2025 lineup features Karis Anderson and Zoe Birkett sharing Tina, Rolan Bell as Ike, and a robust ensemble including Mark Anderson (Phil Spector/Terry Britten), Jonathan Carlton (Erwin Bach), and Carole Stennett (Zelma). Past standouts like Aisha Jawando and Elesha Paul Moses have rotated through, with Charlotte St. Croix as standby Tina. Directed by Lloyd known for “Mamma Mia!” the cast’s “tour de force” energy (The Telegraph) and vocal mimicry of Turner’s rasp keep the Aldwych stage ablaze, backed by Mark Thompson’s vivid sets.

A Global West End Legacy

From its 2018 debut, “Tina” has outlasted peers at the Aldwych, hitting its 2-millionth visitor in 2023 and extending from a planned 2024 close to October 2025. Its Broadway run (2019-2022) nabbed 12 Tony nods, while Hamburg, Sydney, and a North American tour (2022-2024) spread its reach. A UK and Ireland tour kicked off March 6, 2025, at Leicester’s Curve Theatre, with Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy as Tina. Critics laud its “roof-raising” joy (Daily Mail), though some note a “two-dimensional” script (BBC). Partnered with Women’s Aid reflecting Turner’s abuse survival it’s a West End titan, blending biography with spectacle, honoring a legend who rewrote the rules.