TINA: The Tina Turner Musical has celebrated its fifth anniversary in the West End with an outstanding gala performance held on Tuesday, April 18, at the Aldwych Theatre. Following the life of Tina Turner—through childhood, her abusive relationship with Ike Turner, and making it on her own—the show brings to light the struggles and triumphs she’s faced. The jukebox musical, featuring hit songs, ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’, ‘The Best’, ‘River Deep Mountain High’, ‘Nutbush City Limits’, and more, opened in the West End to critical acclaim and has since continued to wow spectators with its inspirational story.
The show’s anniversary sparked excitement throughout the cast and crew, with Kristina Love—who shares the role of Tina with Elesha Paul Moses—telling Schön!: “I am so honored […] [and] I feel so blessed. This production was the first of all the productions in the world. The show has […] played in the UK, Germany, the US, Spain, Holland and now Australia. 6 productions, 4 languages, 1 story, and it all began in London.”
As she looks back on her time in the West End production, Love recalls her first memories of Turner: “On any given Sunday after church or on holidays, my family would gather at my great-grandmother’s house. While she cooked, we would watch musical films and sing together. One of our favorites to watch was What’s Love Got to Do With It with the illustrious Angela Bassett and her incredible co-star Lawrence Fishburne.”
“Every single experience in my entire life, whether good or bad has made me the woman I am today,” says Love, reflecting on what she’s learned from playing Tina. “I often felt like I was ill-equipped to stand in the rooms I was in, but [Tina] went from picking cotton to performing in coliseums. I find strength in the parallels of our stories and realized it is because of who I am, not in spite of who I am, I stand in the grace afforded me today.”
“She’s been a part of my musical life, my entire life. So to have the honour of portraying her having met her, and spent time with her, is one of the most surreal and special honors I have had in my life,” Love continued.
For the event, TINA partnered with Women’s Aid, a charity focusing on ending domestic violence towards women and children and supporting survivors. Former Olympian, life coach, and Women’s Aid ambassador, Michelle Griffith-Robinson made an emotional speech on behalf of the organization, reminding the audience that “We mustn’t forget that Tina Turner has continued her own legacy through her own trauma. […] Nobody is exempt from violence, it doesn’t matter what background you come from or what colour you are.”
As TINA begins its sixth year in the West End, the strength that Turner’s story inspires does not go unnoticed.
For more information visit TINA: The Tina Turner Musical.
words. Amber Louise
