Following a series of highly-subscribed preview performances in recent days, Australian producers Paul Dainty AO and TEG Dainty (in collaboration with Stage Entertainment, Tali Pelman and Tina Turner) will officially be opening TINA – The Tina Turner Musical for its Australian premiere tonight. The season will be running at Theatre Royal Sydney until at least late-October 2023, with a new wave of tickets for performances up to 22 October 2023 set to go on sale from tomorrow.
Those in attendance at tonight’s opening will include some big names in Sydney and Australia as a whole – including but not limited to – Rebecca Gibney, David Koch, Courtney Act, Marcia Hines, David Campbell, Natalie Bassingthwaite, Paulini Curuenavuli, Lisa Wilkinson, former NRL players Ben Elias, Wayne Pearce and Ian Roberts, Christine Anu, Angela Bishop, Melissa Doyle, Kylie Gilles, Daryl Somers, Ada Nicodemou, Kerri Anne Kennerley, Brendan Jones and Tristan MacManus.
Australian stage performer Ruva Ngwenya, known for roles in musicals such as The Lion King, We Will Rock You, and Moulin Rouge The Musical, will play her first lead role as Tina Turner in TINA – The Tina Turner Musical. Joining her on stage is multi-platinum artist Tim Omaji, who previously shone in roles such as Toulouse-Lautrec in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Benny in In The Heights, and Tyrone Jackson in Fame The Musical. He will portray Ike Turner.
The principal cast also features Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy as Tina Turner alternate, while Ibinabo Jack portrays Tina’s mother, Zelma Bullock. Tina’s grandmother, Gran Georgeanna, is brought to life by Deni Gordon, and Nadia Komazec takes on the role of Ike and Tina’s manager, Rhonda Graam. Tina’s sister Alline Bullock and one of the Ikettes is played by Jayme-Lee Hanekom, with Augie Tchantcho in the role of Tina’s father, Richard Bullock, and Rishab Kern portraying Tina’s first love, Raymond Hill.
In supporting roles, Matthew Prime plays record company Marketing Manager Erwin Bach, Mat Verevis appears as Tina’s Manager Roger Davies, and John O’Hara embodies the roles of Record Producer Phil Spector and Lyricist Terry Britten. Blake Erickson joins the cast as musician Martyn Ware and Carpenter.
The ensemble includes Mia Dabkowski-Chandler, Michael Corey Hassel, Nicholas Eaton, Abu Kebe as Ronnie, Jenni Little as Toni, David Mairs-McKenzie as Craig, Emily Nkomo as an Ikette, Gus Noakes, Kristin Paulse, Ilana Richardson, Tendai Rinomhota, Noel Samuels, Ina Seidou, Rebecca Selley as an Ikette and Tigist Strode as an Ikette.
Written by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is directed by Tony Award nominee Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Tony Award nominee Anthony van Laast, set and costume designs by Tony Award nominee Mark Thompson, musical supervision, additional music and arrangements by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Tony Award nominee Bruno Poet, sound by Tony Award nominee Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Tony Award nominee Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Ethan Popp and wigs, hair and makeup design by Drama Desk Award winner Campbell Young Associates.
For information on how to book tickets, visit the show’s official website.
