Tina Turner’s incredibly inspirational life story is being played out on stage in an explosive musical heading to the Lyric Theatre at QPAC. Every song you want to sing and dance along to is belted out by the spellbinding Ruva Ngwenya who plays the iconic musician. Though, technically, it’s not her first time playing the role.
At age 15, Ruva played Tina Turner in her high school musical production of the Leader of the Pack – The Ellie Greenwood Musical. After stealing the stage, Ruva’s drama teacher urged her parents to audition her for Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and it changed the trajectory of her life. Instead of aspiring to be a netball player, Ruva started working hard to become an actress and has now landed the same role in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, that set her on that path.
The equally as impressive Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy is the Tina Alternate, sharing the part. The British actress says it her hardest role to date yet also the most rewarding. The musical portrays Turner’s humble beginnings in Nutbush City along with her marriage to musician Ike Turner, played by Giovanni Adams. Cairns born Mat Verevis is coming back home to Queensland to play Roger Davies. He was Tina Turner’s Australian manager who is credited with her triumphant musical career come back and that NRL ad we all know and love.
The costumes take audiences on a nostalgic tour through the Queen of Rock and Roll’s iconic looks over the decades and around 170 wigs are featured throughout the show. It’s gotten rave reviews after a phenomenal run in West End, on Broadway and here in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. Now Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – is rolling into Brisbane on June 29. Head to the QPAC website for more information and to buy your tickets. It’s simply the best!
