Review: The Tina Turner Musical at The Palace Theatre
Powerhouse vocals, iconic songs and a story of survival brought to life with real energy and emotional punch.
The atmosphere at The Palace Theatre Manchester was electric last night when Tina Turner - The Musical burst onto the stage - a West End phenomenon now embarking on its first UK and Ireland tour after seven triumphant years in London. With a pulse-pounding soundtrack of hits we all know and love, this is an inspiring and exhilarating show. It carries the audience through the “river deeps” and “mountain highs” of Turner’s life - the voice, the charisma, the unmistakable power - while still confronting the grit: the violence she endured, the barriers she broke, and the resilience that ultimately turned her into a global icon.
The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll takes centre stage, and with such a punchy, emotionally charged score it feels wholly justified that two performers - Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy - share the role of Tina. At the performance I attended, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy delivered a formidable turn. It’s more than impersonation: she captures the mannerisms, the warmth, the movement, and shapes them into a full transformation. And she can’t half sing - raspy, powerful, emotional - a voice that cuts through the room and carries the weight of Turner’s story.
The show begins just as Tina is about to step on stage in Brazil. As she grounds herself with a Buddhist mantra, we’re swept back to her childhood in Nutbush, Tennessee - a narrative arc shaped by writer Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. All this unfolds against a backdrop of social upheaval - racism in the South, shifting cultural tides and a capricious music industry. The show charts the humble and volatile beginnings of Anna Mae Bullock’s life, her move to St Louis as a teenager, the abusive relationship with music partner and husband Ike Turner, and her eventual, hard-won ascent to global stardom.
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the supporting cast all give strong performances too. David King-Yombo plays Ike Turner with enough swagger, chill and arrogance to generate audible boos on the night I attended - it’s a tricky role to pitch, but he gets it just right. The fight scenes bring a real grit and sense of danger too, vividly choreographed by fight director Kate Waters.
The big showstoppers - 'Proud Mary', '(Simply) The Best' and 'River Deep - Mountain High' - land exactly as they should, powered by a superb live band and woven cleanly into the story. However, Tina Turner - The Musical reaches far beyond jukebox territory. It’s a show about survival and sheer stamina - and this production has this in spades.
