An unflinching and empowering portrait of Tina Turner’s life.
Bringing the life of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll to the stage, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical arrives at the Leeds Grand Theatre with an energy that is both electrifying and deeply affecting. More than just a celebration of Tina Turner’s iconic career, this production offers a powerful portrayal of the hardship she endured and the extraordinary strength it took to overcome it.
While the musical is packed with well-known hits, it is the story behind them that leaves the greatest impact. From her early years to her rise to global stardom, the production lays bare the reality of Tina’s life, particularly the abuse and control she experienced at the hands of Ike.
These moments are handled with care but never softened, forcing the audience to confront the emotional and physical toll of her journey. It is this honesty that gives the show its real power this is not just a story of success, but one of survival.
Image: Supplied
A standout element of the production is the use of a younger Tina to show the early stages of her life and career. These scenes reveal her vulnerability, ambition, and the experiences that shaped her resilience, giving crucial context to her struggles with Ike and making her eventual empowerment all the more powerful. From hopeful, constrained performer to fiercely independent icon, her journey feels earned and deeply moving.
At the heart of the show is Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi, whose portrayal of Tina is nothing short of extraordinary. She captures every facet of the performer from vulnerability to fierce determination allowing the audience to fully experience Tina’s lowest moments as well as her eventual rise.
Image: Supplied
Opposite her, David King-Yombo delivers a chilling performance as Ike, embodying the manipulation and control that defined their relationship. Their dynamic is deeply uncomfortable at times, but essential in highlighting the magnitude of Tina’s resilience.
Equally striking is the musical’s staging and visual storytelling, which mirrors Tina’s emotional journey. Intimate early-life moments and larger-than-life concert sequences are enhanced with lighting, set design, and choreography.
Iconic numbers such as “Disco Inferno,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and “Private Dancer” are brought to life with golden disco balls and soaring spotlights, celebrating her rise while reflecting her transformation from oppression to empowerment. These moments are met with overwhelming audience enthusiasm, making Tina’s struggles and triumphs feel immediate, immersive, and unforgettable.
Image: Supplied
The only area that felt slightly less polished was the stage combat. While the physical tension between Tina and Ike was effective in conveying conflict and control, some of the choreography occasionally felt a little uneven, which momentarily pulled focus from the emotional intensity of those scenes. Even so, these moments were brief and did little to diminish the overall impact of the production.
By the final moments of the production, Tina prepares once more to take the stage, the narrative comes full circle the show ends the same way it began, with Tina getting ready for her gig. This framing is both thoughtful and powerful, giving the audience a moment to reflect on and celebrate the journey they have just witnessed.
Having experienced her struggles, triumphs, and transformation, the audience is invited to share in the exhilaration of her performance, turning the theatre into a concert-like celebration of resilience, empowerment, and music. As Tina herself, who worked on the production before her passing in 2023, described on opening night, the show is “poison turned into medicine.”
Ultimately, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is a story of empowerment forged through adversity. For audiences at the Leeds Grand Theatre, this is more than a night at the theatre; it is an emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable tribute to a woman who refused to be defined by her past.
Running until 4 April. Tickets available now here.
Featured image - Supplied
Leeds
Cult burger brand Burgerism opens takeaway outside of Manchester in a Leeds suburb
The North West’s most ordered burger has landed in Leeds, and it’s easy to see why it’s loved by so many.
If you don't know about Burgerism, then get to know.
The iconic burger brand, which started life as a dark kitchen off an industrial estate in Salford, is now almost ready to welcome fans into its first Leeds location.
Set to open tomorrow – Wednesday 23 September – Burgerism will be serving up their signature smash burgers from a new site over in Meanwood.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The site sits right next to The Meadwood Tavern on Meanwood Road, the perfect location for if you're out and about and looking for a bit of grub after a few pints.
The interior is sporting the bright Burgerism orange, and although it is mainly a takeaway restaurant there are a few seats for sit-in.
You’ll be able to order your food at the counter, via self-service kiosks, or through click-and-collect on the Burgerism website.
Images: The Hoot leeds
Highlights on the menu will, as always, include the fan-favourite Cheesed (two smashed patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and the brand’s signature sauce, served in a seeded brioche bun), as well as a range of chicken burgers, fries, and wings.
Everything is made fresh to order, and even their sauces and dips are made entirely in-house.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And the good stuff doesn't stop there, as to celebrate the grand opening they'll be giving away the first 100 customers from 5pm a 'Comeback Card' where you'll eat on them during your next visit. So get there early if you don't want to miss out
The Meanwood site will be the sixth Burgerism site following its five openings elsewhere in Greater Manchester.
The Leeds Cinema Crawl is back with music-themed films across three different independent venues
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Letterboxd can expect to hear from you after this trifecta.
The Leeds Cinema Crawl is a unique experience, aiming to bring like-minded film buffs together, for a full day of cinematic fun.
Whether you simply love film, you are a The Beatles super-fan or punk-rock is more your thing, this year's theme is The Beat Goes On, so all selected films centre around the celebration of music, rhythm and performance.
While fancy dress is not essential, guests are encouraged to fully immerse themselves by coming dressed as their favourite character from one of the three films, or in an outfit inspired by the The Beat Goes On theme.
The team are yet to release details on the exciting film related activities for the day alongside the screenings, though there is usually a selection of fun games and introductory activities to join in with.
5:30pm - Good Vibrations (15, 2012, 111 minutes) at Howard Assembly Room
To complete the whole experience - all three venues have a great range of both soft and alcoholic beverages on offer and some classic cinema snacks too.
However, the beauty of the crawl lends itself to exploration in the surrounding areas, in between screenings. The films are to be spaced out across the whole day and across various venues, allowing for time to stretch your legs and try out some of the fabulous local eateries that Leeds has to offer.
Each independent cinema selected for the crawl has something to offer that regular cinemas do not.
Our personal favourite of the three is Hyde Park Picture House, located in the heart of Hyde Park. The building itself has been recently restored to its former glory making it worth the visit alone, with the most ornate, charming exterior and fully equipped with an old fashioned ticket office and street lamp that transports you back in time.
Whether you live locally or you make a day of it, by visiting Leeds, this event is not to be missed out on.
You must be at least 18 to purchase a day pass due to some of the films ratings and there will be no allocated seating, so be sure to arrive in good time to nab the best seats.
While some cinemas are accessible for wheelchair users, some are sadly not, so it is advised to speak with the cinemas directly before purchasing tickets for the event.
A cross-venue full-day ticket costs £24 for access to all three films. However, students, those with a Leeds Card or seniors over 60, can access reduced tickets for £19. It is important to note that HPPH free membership tickets are not available on the day passes.
Tickets for individual screenings are also available for around £8.50-£10.
The event is on Sunday 27 September 2026, starting at 11:30am.
For further information and to book your tickets here.
Declan Kelly -
19th March 2026 
