FROM TIMO MATIC TO IKE TURNER
PLAYING TINA TURNER’S HUSBAND ON STAGE WAS A CHALLENGE TIM OMAJI CRAVED
Tim Omaji’s career has come a long way since he first burst onto our screens in 2009 as ‘Timomatic’ on So You Think You Can Dance.
Over the years, the dancing dynamo has added more strings to his bow, including singing and acting, to become a fullyfledged triple threat.
Now 35, Tim is far from slowing down. In fact, he’s about to take on his most challenging role yet, playing Ike Turner in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.
Here, the natural-born entertainer gives us the lowdown on playing troubled Ike, and reveals why Tina Turner is simply the best thing ever!
Congrats on the show! Did you have any trepidation about playing Ike Turner?
I knew for this story to hit home, that it has to be raw.
So I didn’t have much of a fear, but more so a responsibility of making the role authentic to show the power of Tina and what she went through. Ike is quite complex.
What has Ike Turner boot camp and rehearsals been like so far?
I have learnt how to play the guitar. I can beat a drum pretty well, but in terms of playing melodic instruments … no! This has been a big challenge.
Do you remember the first time you were introduced to Tina Turner’s music?
I was very young – maybe 5 or 6 years old – and I remember those NRL ads with Tina and the song ‘The Best’. I remember her being so powerful. I didn’t know what she was doing, but I knew this lady and this performance was so dynamic!
The musical was developed with Tina’s involvement and blessing. Have you had any interaction with her?
Yeah, she keeps not picking up my calls (laughs). So I might not keep pursuing that. But no, no direct involvement. She has written to the incredible
Ruva Ngwenya, who is playing our Tina, to give the cast her blessing. That’s enough for me.
You have done a few stage musicals now, including Rent, In The Heights
and Fame. Do you have a preference between musicals or releasing your own material?
You know what, I found that they serve each other in this really strange and beautiful way. There isn’t one that is greater or that
I love more.
‘For this to hit home,
it has to be raw’
Away from musicals, is a return to reality TV on the cards for you?
I’d love to judge Australia’s Got Talent again or be a coach on The Voice. Something that’s more of a mentoring role. But as a contestant … I’m done!
What do you like to do to switch off in your downtime?
I’ve become an avid reader! I’m a non-fiction guy – I love reading biographies. Also, spending time with my partner. We love to go on experiences and get to the beach.
Speaking of, how amazing has your partner, Nadia Constantina, been throughout all this?
Any partner of someone who is in this industry, I tip my hat to. Nadia has been such a rock for me. And in the last few years she’s also been my script reader, helping me get through scripts.
So is she is The One?
Yes! If anything changes, I will update everyone (laughs). Nadia is definitely my soulmate.