About the work
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is a biographical jukebox musical about the life of the rock legend Tina Turner, underscored by her greatest hits; the book is by Katori Hall. Following its 2018 London premiere, the Broadway premiere came in 2019. Powerful and emotional, it tells a true story of abuse, resilience and triumphant self-assertion – carried by the unmistakable music of one of rock's greatest voices.
Plot
From her childhood as Anna Mae Bullock in rural Tennessee, where she sings in the church choir, to worldwide fame, the show traces Tina Turner's extraordinary life. It depicts her rise alongside Ike Turner, the marriage marked by violence and control, her courageous escape from that relationship and the rocky road back – until, in the 1980s, she reinvents herself as a single, mature artist and celebrates one of the greatest triumphs in music history with her solo comeback. A story of pain, faith and unbroken will.
Cultural significance
Tina honours one of the most influential artists in rock and pop history, combining her worldwide hits such as "Proud Mary", "What's Love Got to Do with It" and "The Best" with an unvarnished life story. The show represents a new generation of biographical musicals that pair the work of real stars with serious themes such as domestic violence and female empowerment. The demanding title role is regarded as one of the most challenging in modern music theatre and made several performers famous around the world.