Review: Tina - The Tina Turner Musical has hit Melbourne and is simply the best
The energy, the sets, the lighting, the dazzling costumes and a powerhouse performance by Ruva Ngwenya as Tina Turner are simply the best.
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Simply the best.
Any doubters Tina - The Tina Turner Musical would hit a flat note were blown out of their seats at the Princess Theatre during Thursday’s opening night.
The energy, the sets, the lighting, the dazzling costumes and a simply powerhouse performance lead by Ruva Ngwenya with all the right moves from the Queen of Rock’n’Roll had the audience dancing and rolling’ like a river up from their seats for an almost 10 minute standing ovation.
The encore and ovation turned into a mini-rock concert of its own, as the cast belted out hits Nutbush City Limits and crowd favourite, classic Proud Mary.
Up on their dancing feet as gold glitter burst from the famed iconic theatre’s ceiling as the curtain fell were a host of Melbourne’s who’s who out in force in including Rove McManus, Eddie Perfect, Adam Hills, Anthony Callea, Tom Gleisner, Todd Woodbridge, Mel Tracina, Libby Gore, Jennifer Keyte, Josh Thomas, Tottie Goldsmith and Chloe Lattanzi, the daughter of Olivia Newton-John who was heavily referenced in the show.
The corporate sector was also represented with Victoria Racing Club’s Neil Wilson and Kylie Rogers and Australian Grand Prix boss Travis Auld.
Anyone who has forgotten Turner’s standout hit after hit, were gladly reminded, from Private Dancer, to What’s Love Got To DO With it had the crowd miming and head bopping in their chairs.
The show has sold over 600,000 tickets around the country since it first opened in Australia in May last year, an enormous effort. But it is not until you see the smash hit Broadway musical up close and personal that you can feel the raw emotion and energy that the late Tina Turner herself once brought to her own gigs.
Powerful points around racism and domestic violence were delved into during act one as her well-documented horror story of her relationship with musician and husband Ike Turner played out.
By act two the high-octane energy was rockin’ with the audience whooping and shouting in support of Tina as she carved out her way as a solo performer – her iconic 80s rock diva wig was in itself a star of its own. Sidenote: the musical rightly has an age limit of 14+, with swearing, gunshots and scenes depicting domestic violence, but for everyone else, get your dancing shoes on.
Later the cast were also whooping with unbridled joy at the opening night after-party at the Park Hyatt, with Ngwenya arriving down the grand foyer stairs, looking a vision in purple, to celebratory ululating for her star opening night performance which didn’t miss a beat.
Tina: Tina Turner The Musical has already had an extended season, and will run at the Princess Theatre to January 2026.
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