Tina Turner musical hits the right note

THE musical based on the life of legendary singer Tina Turner is finally hitting the road for a UK tour – and I got to watch this incredible show in London’s West End a year before it makes its Glasgow debut.

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical has been based at the Aldwych Theatre since its debut in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength with a Broadway slot and tours in Spain, Germany and Australia.

I was lucky enough to visit the home of the show to see a matinee performance on the same day the 2025 UK tour was announced.

As a fan of the singer, I thought I knew pretty much everything about her but this jukebox musical still surprised me.

The audience meets Tina as a schoolgirl who goes by the name of Anna Mae Bullock.

We learn about her young life in Nutbush, Tennessee. Considered unruly, she brought up by her grandmother and it’s only when she passes, Tina is later reunited with her mother and sister when she begins to frequent nightclubs in St Louis.

There she impresses rising star Ike Turner with her voice in a nightclub so much so he acquired her services as a singer in his band, and the rest as they say is history.

The story of the late star was previously portrayed to audiences in the 1993 film What’s Love Got to Do With It starring Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne.

But what this show captures beautifully is the power of the music sung by Tina.

There are of course themes explored such as domestic abuse, overcoming struggles and discovering your own identity.

But despite not always penning her hits, most of Tina’s songs reflect a moment in her life.

From the Phil Spector produced River Deep, Mountain High to Proud Mary to her rock era with What’s Love Got to Do With It and Private Dancer, the singer’s biggest songs almost act like a soundtrack to her life in the show.

Knowing that Tina was involved in the creation of the show before her death adds to its authenticity.

It comes to Glasgow’s King’s Theatre from September 23 to October 4, next year, and I have no doubt it will entertain audiences. Not only does it showcase how remarkable Tina was, it acts as lasting memory for an incredible voice that can never be replicated.

Catch Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at The King’s Theatre in 2025. Tickets are on sale now: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/tina-the-tina-turner-musical/kings-theatre-glasgow/