Latest news with #TinaTurnerMusical
Daily Mirror
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly star addresses show 'curse' after huge change in marriage
EXCLUSIVE: Former X Factor star Fleur East tells of the emotional difficulties she faced making her West End debut in Tina - and why Strictly did wonders for her marriage She's currently wowing audiences in the West End with her searing portrayal of late superstar Tina Turne r at London's Aldwych Theatre. But Strictly star Fleur East has told how the emotional difficulties of the role pushed her to the brink and caused her to break down in front of the entire cast and crew. In an exclusive interview with OK!, the 37-year-old reveals that acting out the raw scenes of domestic abuse between Tina and her husband Ike left her feeling triggered. 'During rehearsals I did the hospital scene in front of the entire company and I just broke down and I was sobbing, just sobbing,' she says. 'I guess it allowed me to tap into the emotions of losing my father, I just really sobbed." The star, who recently confirmed her new career goals now she's a mum, added: 'But the director thanked me for allowing myself to be vulnerable in front of so many people, because apparently it's very hard to do. I am very green to acting.' Fleur, who is mum to 16-month-old daughter, Nova, lost her father Malcolm at the beginning of lockdown in March 2020. He died after suffering an unexpected heart attack. Tina – The Tina Turner Musical follows the pop legend's life, from growing up in the American deep south in the 1950s to becoming the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, and has scenes of racial tension that Fleur, as a woman of colour, found distressing. 'There's a lot of language from the time that's used, including the N-word, and in the beginning when that was said to my face in rehearsals, even though it was in character, it was really hard.' But Fleur also says she takes great inspiration from Tina's life journey. 'Her story shows that a woman's career doesn't have to be over at 40 — in fact Tina's career took off in her mid-forties. There can be an ageist attitude in showbiz that it's all over at 40, but at 40 women are in their prime. If you'd told me a year ago that I'd be performing in the West End a year after giving birth I would have laughed. But Tina's a great example that you can still keep pushing and still make it happen." Former X Factor competitor Fleur, who shot to fame as a solo act on the ITV talent show in 2014, will continue playing Tina until September, after which she'll return to her role hosting Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Takes Two , alongside Janette Manrara. Having also competed on Strictly , finishing as a runner-up in 2022 partnered with Vito Coppola, Fleur, who has been married for six years to French fashion designer Marcel Badiane-Robin, knows only too well the rumours of the show's famous 'curse'. But the singer has some advice for upcoming contestants. 'The way to avoid the Strictly curse is to stay attached to whatever your reality is,' she says. 'Because with all these shows — Strictly , the jungle and so on — it's really intense and it's like a bubble and it's easy to think, 'Oh this is my life.' But it's not real. When I was on Strictly my husband and sister came to every single live show for three months, they were the two in the audience, every single night.' In fact, for Fleur, the show helped spice up her marriage, and she says that far from falling victim to the curse, the chance to shine was a tonic for their relationship. 'For me and my husband,' she says, ' Strictly put the spark back into our relationship because you're feeling really fit and your partner's watching you perform at the weekend and because of the amazing wardrobe and make-up team you're looking amazing. It makes you fall in love with each other again because there's an element of when you're seeing your partner excelling at something they do, you go, 'Oh yeah, that's my partner,' and it makes you proud of them.' The Walthamstow-born star comes from a close-knit family and since the death of her father, she has grown even closer to her mother, Irene, and sister Keshia, with whom she has a haircare brand, Kurl Kitchen. Indeed, Fleur says that her family keep her grounded and she avoids the pitfalls of fame by involving them in all her career decisions. 'Whenever I have an offer I always sit my family down and tell them all about the opportunity. We discuss the pros and the cons and I listen to what they have to say. My husband is a fashion designer and I often wear his clothes on the red carpet. It's really important to involve my family in my journey.' Brought up in the 90s in a mixed-race family — her mother is from Ghana and her late father was English — Fleur says she was delighted to see Meghan Markle join the House of Windsor. 'When Meghan married Harry, that was such a big deal in our family, because my mum used to joke when I was growing up that she wanted me to marry Prince William. She'd say, 'One day you'll marry Prince William,' and I'd say, 'Mum, there's zero chance of that.' So when Meghan married Harry, we all thought, 'Wow, this is major.' I'll never forget the ceremony and seeing the Black priest in St George's Chapel and the gospel choir — for me it was a huge moment for the royal family.' Fleur, who described herself as 'very nervous' when she performed for the royal family at the VE Day celebrations earlier this year, hopes Meghan and Harry will come back to the royal fold and be back on the Buckingham Palace balcony one day. 'I don't really follow As Ever, but I still think it's great that Meghan is there as a brown princess. Hopefully they can patch things up with the King. There's so much we don't know, we don't know the relationships and what's going on behind the scenes.' Away from the bright lights of the showbiz circuit, Fleur is also fully immersed in motherhood, following the arrival of her daughter Nova last March. 'I had a home birth, it was hard because I had no other form of pain relief but gas and air — and the gas and air only arrived in the last few hours,' she recalls. 'It was very tough — I had to tap into a whole different area of my brain to find the strength to come through it. My husband was an amazing support. I was just rolling around naked on the floor until my daughter arrived. But I do feel so lucky that nothing went wrong.' Fleur says that, thanks to her upbringing, she didn't have body confidence issues growing up, and following in the footsteps of her own mother, she's happy to be naked at home. 'As it's been really hot recently, in the house I've just been walking around naked,' she says. 'My husband was laughing at me and saying, 'Look at you, just walking around naked!' 'And I say, 'I grew up in a household with a mum who did the same.' Mum was very confident and she just walked around naked and it was never spoken about. She was never shy or conscious of her body, it was very normal to see my mum's stomach covered in stretchmarks after having me and my sister. 'Now I have stretchmarks because I've just had a baby. In a way I am very grateful to my mum for that because I never had body confidence issues growing up and now I am doing the same for my child.'
Sunday World
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Tina Turner musical's stars pay tribute to icon as show lands in Ireland
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of the American music icon's hits. TINA the musical, , Directed by Phyllida Lloyd with a book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, and Kees Prins, CHOREOGRAPHER -ANTHONY VAN LAAST, SET & COSTUME DESIGNER - MARK THOMPSON, LIGHTING DESIGNER - BRUNO POET, PROJECTION DESIGNER - JEFF SUGG, HAIR, WIGS & MAKE UP DESIGNER - CAMPBELL YOUNG, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - KATHERINE HARE, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER - SIMONE MISTRY-PALMER, Curve theatre, UK, Credit: Johan Persson/ TINA the musical, , Directed by Phyllida Lloyd with a book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, and Kees Prins, CHOREOGRAPHER -ANTHONY VAN LAAST, SET & COSTUME DESIGNER - MARK THOMPSON, LIGHTING DESIGNER - BRUNO POET, PROJECTION DESIGNER - JEFF SUGG, HAIR, WIGS & MAKE UP DESIGNER - CAMPBELL YOUNG, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - KATHERINE HARE, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER - SIMONE MISTRY-PALMER, Curve theatre, UK, Credit: Johan Persson/ From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her triumphant transformation into a multi-award-winning global superstar, Tina Turner didn't just break the rules, she rewrote them. Born Anna Mae Bullock, Tina, who died in May 2023 at the age of 83, left behind an incredible legacy and a treasure trove of hits that will see her name live on for generations to come. Not surprisingly there's Tina, The Tina Turner Musical, which opens at Dublin's Bord Gais Energy Theatre this coming week. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her iconic hits, including The Best, What's Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer and River Deep, Mountain High, it's a real treat. Elle Ma-Kinga N'Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy will share the iconic role of Tina Turner, alongside David King-Yombo as Ike Turner. MacCarthy says she will never forget the morning she heard about Tina's death as she had starred as the pop legend in the Australian production of the Tina musical the previous night. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Photo: Johan Persson She says: 'When I first performed this show, Tina was still alive…a week after we opened, she passed. I didn't know until I started receiving messages from people the next day telling me how sorry they were to hear the sad news. I was like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa...' 'That night, the house was packed…people wanted to be there to pay their respects and show their gratitude. Having experienced doing the show with the potential for Tina to walk in the door at any moment, that night I experienced it with the potential of her presence being there… the emotion was phenomenal, a different level of performance, like an out of body experience.' N'Zuzi says: 'My foster dad was a huge fan of Tina Turner, consequently, she was the first black artist I was introduced to as he had all her cassettes and CDs. I'd dance in front of the TV whenever she was on.' As a child, N'Zuzi's party-piece was Proud Mary and by a strange twist it was the song that got her an initial role playing Tina. She explains, 'I was in rock bands at the time and at several concerts I'd been asked to sing the likes of Proud Mary. I was working in Germany when the producers needed an alternate Tina and they emailed me. I thought, 'Why not?' So I went along and I got the job. It just happened by chance really.' It was at the age of seven that MacCarthy first came across the name Tina Turner thanks to a singing birthday card she'd bought for her mum. She laughs: 'That was the first time I ever came across her name… it was back in the day when you got these cards that, when opened, would sing this one song, Simply The Best, over and over again." To their regret, neither N'Zuzi nor MacCarthy met the rock legend whose story they tell, the former missing the opportunity to do so by just a few months. 'Tina had visited the show a few months before I joined during a cast change,' she says. 'So half of the cast had met her, the other half, like me, had not. 'But I discovered that Tina loved Germany and that when she ran away from Ike, she hid in Stuttgart, just around the corner from our theatre there. Not many people are aware of that. 'In fact, while I was there, I went to a local recording studio to record some stuff and there, on the walls, were all these amazing photos of Tina that I'd never seen before.' After Tina died MacCarthy set off on a pilgrimage to Switzerland to visit the star's home. She adds: 'I went to her house and laid some flowers by her door. Unlike many huge stars who live in secluded communities, her house was by the road. Tina always wanted to be accessible.'
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
What's on for the June bank holiday weekend in Dublin – festivals, fairs, music events and family fun
But if you're looking for something a little different, there is no shortage of fun things to do across the city, come rain or shine. Here are just a few you wouldn't want to miss. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical After all the time spent roaming the city, you might want to rest your feet and enjoy some show-stopping entertainment. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, is running at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre until June 14 as a part of its first Irish tour, featuring Ohene MacCarthy and Elle Ma-Kinga N'Zuzi's interpretations of the superstar's hits. The show chronicles the twelve-time Grammy winner's beginnings in Tennessee, before her meteoric rise to fame and hits such as Proud Mary, River Deep, Mountain High, What's Love Got to Do With It. and Private Dancer. Tickets from €41 to €63 are available from Ticketmaster. Drink and Draw Taking place at Dublin Pottery & Tufting and Dublin's Gen Bar, in Smithfield, on Friday May 30 and Saturday 31 May respectively, Alternative Dublin is hosting two two-hour Drink and Draw nights over the bank holiday weekend. Taking place at Dublin Pottery & Tufting on Friday, May 30, the night will be dedicated to painting like the late Picasso. Attendees will be able to try their hand at painting in the artist's unique style while sipping on their drink of choice. On Saturday, May 31, Dublin's Gen Bar will become an atelier for all those who wish to create art based on American pop singer Chappell Roan. No previous experience is required and the event is open to all who are legally permitted to drink alcohol. All the art materials necessary will be given during the session and an instructor will be available to provide assistance throughout. A custom playlist will accompany the evening and prizes are to be won throughout. The event is ticketed, with entry costing €25. Silent Disco Adventures In the mood to try something a bit eccentric with friends or family? Embark of a rhythmic journey throughout Dublin town with Silent Disco Tours. Visitors are invited to wear headphones and listen to music during the 60-minute tour. Spontaneous dancing in front of landmarks is encouraged throughout. Private and public tours are available for groups up to 10 people. Adults and children are welcome, the latter at a reduced fee. Silent Tours cost €18 and start in the city centre. Cheer on those who are running the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon The marathon returns for its 43rd year on Sunday, June 1, and will see over 25,000 women running and walking the 10km route through Dublin city centre. Since it first ran in Dublin in 1983, an estimated €226m has been raised for charity. Among the ambassadors for the Mini Marathon are broadcaster Katja Mia, businesswoman Aimee Connolly, health and fitness coach Nathalie Lennon and content creator Clóda Scanlon. Flynn Park Summer Launch To mark its grand re-opening for the summer, Flynn Park, in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, has announced a day full of tunes, games and giveaways on Monday, June 2. Friends and family will be able to enjoy a range of activities from aerial trekking to laser tag. All-access passes are available for those who wish to explore all of what the park has to offer. The wider park offers large-scale attractions for all ages including climbing, a water park, and even archery. The National Gallery Drop into the National Gallery on Saturday, May 31, to join the Gallery Youth Panel for a Youth Lab celebrating summer through postcard making activities in the Merrion Square Forecourt. Dedicated to those aged 16 to 15, it is a free creative drop-in space devised and delivered by young people, for young people. All materials will be provided, and activities are open to everyone. The Gallery Youth Panel is a collective of young people who work together to find, make, and share impactful experiences for their peers and communities at the Gallery. The Youth Lab starts at 12pm and wraps up at 4pm. On Sunday June 1, families are invited to join artist Jane Bowe in the Shaw Room to create a summer garden, using works by William Leech, Emil Nolde and Evie Hone as inspiration. Families with children of all ages are welcome and materials are provided for all artwork. Groups are welcome from 11.30am and can stay as long as they wish. Rewind Festival Rewind Festival returns to Dublin's St Anne's Park on June 1, with Love Really Hurts Without You singer Billy Ocean set to headline, alongside special guests The Boomtown Rats. The line-up for the one-day festival also includes Toyah, Tiffany, Boyzlife, ABC, Midge Ure and Matt Goss. Take a walk down memory lane while listening to familiar music. Gates open at 2pm and children under 16 must be accompanied in order to attend. Tickets are still on sale and prices range from €55 to €75. Catch up on Dublin City Inclusion and Integration Week This week aims to celebrate those who make up the diverse fabric of the city with inclusive events. Why not visit the Cabra Library Film Club on Friday, May 30, or try the Inclusive Dance and Fitness Workshop in Dublin 8 on Saturday, May 31? Dublin City Council has tailored an extensive list of activities during the Bank Holiday weekend. Attend a Celebration of New Irish Writing at The Crowbar Terrace Burgeoning Irish artists will be performing an intimate concert on Saturday, May 31, at The Button Factory. The Crowbar Terrace will host a night of theatrical readings and poetry from upcoming Irish writers such as Matthew O'Leary, Shauna Brady, Ceara Carney and Niamh Murphy. Tickets are €10 and all proceeds made are in aid of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. There will also be a pop-up shop from These People who will be donating their profits.
South Wales Guardian
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Tina Turner musical to close in London's West End after seven years
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, which will see TV presenter Fleur East and theatre actor Karis Anderson star as Turner from June 24, is the longest-running production in the Aldwych Theatre's history. The musical will make its final West End bow on September 13, having been put together in association with the late singer, and telling her life story from her humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into a rock-and-roll star. Speaking about the show's cancellation, producer Tali Pelman said: 'The decision to close our West End production has been extremely difficult. 'Celebrating and sharing Tina's legacy has meant so much to all of us who have been working on this show over the last decade. 'We are proud to have fulfilled Tina's dream for the musical, which was to serve not only as a reminder of her work but as the beating heart of her empowering message – courage, indomitable spirit and an eternal optimism in what is possible. 'We are grateful to our exceptional authors and creatives, to the many extraordinary women who have played this phenomenal role on the Aldwych stage, to the casts, musicians, production and backstage teams, and to the countless others who have dedicated themselves to the London production over the past 10 years. 'We are delighted that the show is selling out on tour across the UK and Ireland, and continues to elate audiences in productions across North America, Europe and around the world. 'In London this will be a summer of celebration, led by our glorious duo of Karis Anderson and Fleur East in our final West End cast.' The show premiered in the West End in April 2018 and since then productions have opened in North America, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Australia, with a Brazilian production opening in February 2026. Turner achieved 11 UK top 10 songs and two UK number one albums, having begun her career with her then husband Ike Turner releasing songs such as River Deep, Mountain High, Nutbush City Limits and Tell Her I'm Not Home. The star went on to achieve global success with her solo career which saw her release songs such as What's Love Got To Do With It?, The Best and Private Dancer.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Tina Turner musical to end on West End as Strictly star joins final cast
The Aldwych Theatre in London's West End has been home to Tina - the Tina Turner Musical for seven years but Fleur East and Karis Anderson will lead its final cast later this year The musical depicting Tina Turner's life and career in the West End will end this year. It comes following the news of a cast change, with a former Strictly Come Dancing star set to be part of the final line-up. Tina - The Tina Turner Musical has run at the Aldwych Theatre in London for seven years, after having debuted at the theatre in 2018. The production of the show, which tells the "untold story" of Tina Turner 's rise to stardom alongside her music, is, however, set to end on September 13. The news comes following the announcement last month that Fleur East, 37, is joining the cast. The performer - who paid tribute to Tina on Strictly in 2023, a year after she competed on the BBC show - will make her debut in June. Between June 24 until the final show, Fleur will share the title role with current cast member Karis Anderson, 35, with the radio host performing at select performances during that period. Karis has portrayed the late singer in the show since 2023 and shares the role with Zoe Birkett, 39, who will leave prior to Fleur's debut over the summer, at the moment. Producers confirmed that the jukebox musical will conclude its West End production in five months time on social media yesterday. They expressed gratitude to fans for their support over the years and noted that the show is continuing to "elate audiences" in productions elsewhere. The news was shared alongside a statement from a producer. A post on the show's Instagram account read: "After 7 triumphant years, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical will be playing it's final West End performance on Saturday 13 September 2025. "Thank you to each and every one of you who has celebrated Tina Turner's life with us over the years. We are delighted that the show is selling out on tour across the UK and Ireland and continues to elate audiences in productions across North America, Europe and around the world." Tali Pelman, one of the producers, said: "Celebrating and sharing Tina's legacy has meant so much to all of us who have been working on this show over the last decade. We are proud to have fulfilled Tina's dream for the musical, which was to serve not only as a reminder of her work but as the beating heart of her empowering message." The producer went on to confirm that Fleur and Karis will be part of the final West End cast. Tali said: "London, this will be a summer of celebration, led by our glorious duo of Karis Anderson and Fleur East in our final West End cast." Following the announcement, fans took to the comments section to share their thoughts. One response to the post on Instagram read: "We're so sad! What an amazing musical with so much heart and soul. Let's see it out in style!" Another said: "This is so sad. One of my favourite shows to watch when I visit London! You've built a brilliant legacy." Someone else wrote: "Sad to hear this - I thought it would run longer. Sending all the amazing cast a big hug." It wasn't just fans who reacted to the post though, with some actors connected to the production also reaching out. Among them was Karis who shared emojis depicting hands in the shape of hearts, whilst Fleur put heart emojis.
