Review: Tina - the Tina Turner musical, UK tour, Glasgow

Lisa in the theatre
Sep 24, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Global hit musical TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL has its Scottish premiere at Glasgow King's theatre this week as part its first ever UK and Ireland tour. Tina the musical plays in Glasgow from 23 September to 4 October 2025, before heading to Edinburgh Playhouse in November. Find the Tina musical tour listings here Read my review of the sensational Tina - the Tina Turner musical UK tour below.

TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy (Tina Turner). Photo by Johan Persson — Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy as Tina Turner in Tina the musical. Photo by Johan Persson

Tina - the Tina Turner musical UK tour ★★★★★

Review: 24 September 2025 | King's Theatre, Glasgow

Following a 6-year run in London's West End, successful productions on Broadway and multiple tours across the globe, mega hit musical Tina - The Tina Turner musical has now embarked on its first ever UK and Ireland tour.

Telling the inspiring true story of legendary music icon Tina Turner, Tina the musical takes us from young Anna Mae Bullock's early life in Nutbush, Tennessee through years of relentless hardship and abuse, to her transformation into the worldwide queen of rock'n'roll.

Tina is a biographical jukebox musical that showcases a woman who fought for her freedom and pursued her dreams under the most difficult circumstances. Packed with Tina's hit songs including The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer and River Deep, Mountain High and many more, Tina the musical is a heart-breaking, uplifting tribute to a strong, tenacious woman who shattered barriers to become one of the most successful female singers of all time.

TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. David King-Yombo (Ike Turner) and Company. Photo by Johan Persson — David King-Yombo as Ike Turner and the Tina - the musical company. Photo by Johan Persson

A step above other jukebox musicals

With a book by Olivier Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, and with input from Tina herself, Tina - the Tina Turner musical is a step above most other jukebox musicals because it has such a strong story in addition to the incredible back catalogue of hit songs.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, Tina's story in Tina the musical primarily focuses on her early life and her time with Ike Turner (a superb David King-Yombo) in Act I; while Act II depicts her endeavours to make it as a solo artist, working with music producer Roger Davies (Isaac Elder) and fighting to reinvent herself.

From the opening note to the final curtain, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy is on stage as Tina, and she is simply phenomenal. The stamina it must take to be onstage for almost 3 hours (yes, this is a long show!) and to nail every song, every mannerism, and to undertake the exhausting emotional rollercoaster that was Tina's life should not be underestimated. It takes an extraordinarily special performer to walk in Tina Turner's shoes and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy does it with style. This is a triumphant performance and an exceptional tribute to the superstar.

The best of the best

The UK tour production of Tina - The Tina Turner musical relies mostly on projections to provide the sets and scenery. But it works, especially when Jeff Suggs' designs are used dynamically to illustrate moving skylines or unveil changing airport display boards showing Tina's destinations.

The stage floor can feel a little bare at times but only fleetingly so. The extraordinary cast fill the space with their performances and Anthony van Laast's urgent choreography. When the final concert set is revealed at the end of the show, complete with onstage band and epic stadium lighting (Bruno Poet's lighting design is a highlight throughout), the impact is even more powerful. And that set is put to good use as a mini concert is performed at the end of the show, the excited crowd finally getting their chance to leap to their feet and join in with the energetic cast for a reprise of some of Tina's most popular songs. It's a spectacular show-stopping finale to the best of the best of the modern bio jukebox musicals. ★★★★★

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL plays at Glasgow King's Theatre from 23 September to 4 October 2025, before continuing on UK tour, including dates at Edinburgh Playhouse in November 2025.

MORE: Visit the Tina Turner musical costume pop up now open in Edinburgh. Find all the details here