The cast just keeps on burning
Caitlin Todd-Petrie
Making its UK and Ireland tour debut, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical arrived at the Edinburgh Playhouse this week, and what a phenomenal show it is. From start to finish, this incredible multi-talented cast put on a spectacular musical origin story of Anna Mae Bulock, best known as the Queen of Rock’ n’ Roll, Tina Turner, played by Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuki for Wednesday’s performance and what a show she put on from start to finish. Her energy, stage presence, and shifts in emotions were just phenomenal, and her ability to show Tina growing over the years, from seventeen to her forties, was flawless through the way she held herself.
One of the younger cast members who deserves a special mention is Lola McCourtie as young Anna Mae Bulock; the performance, energy and vocals from McCourtie were just amazing to watch from the minute the curtain went up all the way to the end. To be able to process and truly understand what Tina went through growing up before her teenage years was shown through her performance in the best way.
Similar to fellow castmate Mariah Martinez, who took to the stage as young Alline Bullock and young Craig, some of the scenes with the younger characters involved were so hard to watch, yet to be able to go out there and do them to the best of your ability even if they are uncomfortable situations to renact, it takes a lot of bravery to do these themes and issues shown especially as young Craig. Martinez playing both roles that face difficult situations, I applaud her for her bravery in taking on the role.
David King-Yombo plays Ike Turner, and what a brilliant yet frightening performance it was to watch on stage from his first entrance to his final scene. King-Yombo, alongside Ma-Kinga N’Zuki, made the show incredibly engaging by bouncing off each other and understanding what really happened between Ike and Tina over the years. King-Yombo aged up his character through his appearance and stage presence also didn’t go unnoticed throughout. He was the villain we just loved to hate throughout the show, and he did an incredible job at the role.
This show filled with glitz and glamour, is all down to the ensemble keeping up with our lead roles and their energy and togetherness. There were some minor prop difficulties on the night; however, the cast were able to react quickly like it were part of the show. with a cast full of credits such as SIX, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge! And Heathers, to name a few, this cast knows how to put on quite the show, making this my new favourite jukebox musical and what a biographical musical should look like. The choreography and fight choreography, as well, from the team of Anthony van Laast, Kate Waters and Simone Mistry-Palmer was breathtaking. You can tell a lot of thought and care went into the show’s movement, and it did not go unnoticed.
Finally, a special mention to Isaac Elder as Rodger Davies, with a range of many different characters and accents throughout the show, his performance as the Australian music producer now lives in my mind rent-free for some reason, and he did a phenomenal job as the character.
If you’re in Edinburgh this weekend looking for something to do, then please go to this brilliant show at the Playhouse or check to see if it is touring in a theatre near you in 2026.