AD| This is last night’s curtain call for Tina: The Tina Turner Musical which is @walesmillenniumcentre for three weeks as part of its first UK tour – and it’s an incredibly powerful production filled with the darkness of Tina’s early life as well as the anthemic musical numbers we know and love her for.

The show is already sold out other than a handful of solo tickets. If you’re lucky enough to be going, then you’re in for a fantastic night.

Definitely not just another juke box musical, it’s an emotional and powerful look at how Tina Turner rose to global stardom, via childhood hardship, strained family relationships, the racism of small-town Tennessee and the music industry, and violent and terrifying abuse at the hands of her music partner and husband Ike.

Elle Ma-King N’Zuzi as Tina is phenomenal. The distinctive husky vocals are spot on and every facial expression is filled with emotion as she veers from fear and frustration to bravery, determination, and resilience. She isn’t a tribute act; she embodies Tina completely.

David King-Yombo as Ike is menacing, controlling, and manipulative, turning on the charm when it benefits him. The violence is harrowing and deeply uncomfortable to watch at times, leaving the audience in stunned silence.

The costumes are brilliant, faithfully recreating some of Tina’s most iconic looks – the tiny black dress and denim jacket, that red leather dress, and of course the spiky 80s hair.

We end with Tina heading out on a world tour, and the most spectacular curtain call of song after song where, of course, we’re all up on our feet dancing and singing. It’s the most exhilarating ending to an inspiring and humbling story of survival and strength, of one woman’s resilience against all the odds.

???? Tina: The Tina Turner Musical @tinamusicaltour
???? Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
???? Until Saturday 28 February
???? Age guidance 14+
⏰ 2 hours 45
????️ From £20 – although very limited availability
???? wmc.org.uk