'The weight is heavy but the message is important': Fleur East on becoming Tina Turner

ITV News

4 days ago

After seven sell out years in the West End, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is to close in September, but not before one final embodiment of the Queen of Rock and Roll.
The singer-turned-presenter Fleur East will make her theatrical debut next month when she steps into the stilettos of Tina Turner - all while presenting her 6am breakfast show on Hits Radio.
"At first I felt like I was slotting into this iconic company that exists and this music that has been around for 7 years, but now I feel like I have a responsibility to go out with a bang and do Tina Turner's story justice" says Fleur.
And that story is an important one.
The musical charts the life and legacy of Tina Turner from her humble beginnings in Nutbush Tennessee, to her abusive relationship with the much older rock and roll musician Ike Turner in the 60's, to her iconic performance in front of 18,000 adoring fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which would go on to make history for having the largest paying audience for a single artist at the time.
"It's very heavy at times because there are some real serious scenes that I have to be involved in, and I can feel that and the weight of it is heavy, but it helps me realise how important the message is and why it's such an incredible role to play," Fleur says.
Speaking at rehearsals in London, Fleur continues: "It opens with the scene of Tina at the bottom of the stairs, she's about to perform in Rio, it's an epic performance, she's got the red leather dress on and the iconic Tina hair. Then we go to the beginning where it all began and we see Tina's story and understand her background, her roots and what makes Tina the woman that she is... by the end it's a perfect journey because you learn every single facet of her."
But in a saturated market where it can feel like every new musical is either based on the life of, or set to the music of, what makes Tina: The Tina Turner Musical special is that is was made in association with the woman herself.
Today, the shows director, Phyllida Lloyd who also brought us blockbusters like The Iron Lady and Mamma Mia!, reveals how her story so nearly never made it to the stage.
"Tina didn't want it to happen at first," Phyllida says. "She said she got so many letters from people saying what an inspiration she'd been to them, not just her music, but her life story and felt if she could go on inspiring people to make that blow for freedom that she made then it would be worth trying to make the musical."
Since it's opening in the West End in 2018 - which Tina herself was present for - eight million people have watched eight women embody the music legend. Tina passed in 2023 aged 83 and today the musical serves as a homage to her strength and talent. But how do you know someone is cut out to play the Queen of Rock and Roll?
"Spontaneity" says Phyllida, "You are looking for the most positive spirit you could possibly find, a triple threat, someone who can dance sing and act, so that's the miracle of Karis and Fleur who haven't come from this world of drama."
Next month, when Fleur walks out on stage at London's Aldwych Theatre, she'll undoubtably be aware of the big boots she has to fill - she is sharing the role with performer Karis Anderson who has been playing the musical icon for the last five years.
But, this is not the first time Fleur's world has collided with the Queen of Rock's. During her stint on The X Factor, where she first rose to prominence, Fleur performed Turner's A Fool in Love.A year later on her debut album Fleur penned a tribute to the singer in her song Kitchen writing "What's love got to do with it, Tina, Tina, Tina, turn it up".
Then in 2023 following her participation in Strictly Come Dancing, Fleur returned to the dancefloor to perform a tribute to Tina alongside Beverly Knight and Laura Mvula.
Today she says it feels like a full circle moment.
"I feel like I've definitely channeled Tina over the years as a performer. I've studied Tina, her dynamic energy, just the way she would come alive on stage. I've watched so many performances of hers. So for me, it does feel like a full circle moment.
It feels like Tina has always been with me as a performer and as a singer, it's a real honour."
Fleur will perform in the musical from Tuesday 24 June to Saturday 13 September 2025 marking the end of its West End run.