Tina - The Tina Turner Musical coming to Sydney’s Theatre Royal

After smashing London’s West End and Broadway in New York, iconic singer Tina Turner is bringing her stage musical to Australia. Find out when it’s coming to Sydney.

Tina is coming — the stage musical based on the turbulent life of iconic singer Tina Turner is headed Down Under.

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical will play at Sydney’s Theatre Royal from May.

“Australia has always shared abundant love with me, going back to my early concerts in the late 70s through the uplifting partnership with the National Rugby League,” Turner said.

“It is very special for me that we will be reunited. The joy, passion and message of resilience in my musical is so important now as ever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me with open arms once again.”

The news was announced at a press call at the Theatre Royal in Sydney on Monday attended by promoter Paul Dainty, of TEG Dainty, and NSW Minister for Tourism, Stuart Ayres.

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical is headed Down Under.

The Tina Turner Musical will be performed at Sydney’s Theatre Royal from May. Picture: Manuel Harlan

Twelve-time Grammy Award winner Turner, now aged 82, is one of the most successful female artists of all time. She has sold more concert tickets than any other solo performer ever.

Turner sold more than 100 million albums in a career spanning some six decades with massive global hits including What’s Love Got To Do With it, Private Dancer, Better Be Good To Me and What You Get Is What You See.

Together with late ex-husband, Ike Turner, she had hits with tracks River Deep – Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits.

Behind the glitz, Turner suffered physically and emotionally at the hands of her ex-husband.

The stage musical was written by Pullitzer Prize winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins and originally had its world premiere in London in April, 2018.

Actor Aisha Jawando as Tina Turner in Tina - The Tina Turner Musical. Picture: Manuel Harlan

The production attracted rave reviews and the Broadway production subsequently opened in New York in March 2019.

Casting for the Australian show is underway.

“I first heard about the possibility of a stage musical portraying Tina’s life seven years ago,” Dainty said. “At that point there was no script and no book however I was hooked on the idea of it. We have been on that journey ever since. Australians will love this theatrical

masterpiece which tells the story of Tina’s life, of empowerment and success, and is ultimately the best music industry comeback story of all time.”

Dainty touring is bringing the Tina Turner musical to Australia.

Turner, who retired formally in 2009, has a longstanding relationship with Australia.

Her long-time manager, Roger Davies, is Australian and she fronted the NRL campaign alongside Jimmy Barnes with her track, The Best in the early 1990s. The song remains an anthem for the sport.

Turner also appeared alongside Mel Gibson in George Miller directed Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in which she played Aunty Entity.

That film was shot in Coober Pedy and Sydney.