Energetic celebration of a wonderful woman at Coventry theatre

THIS is an absolute ‘WOW’ of a show.

Ike (Chris Tummings) and Tina Turner (Emi Wokoma) are the main subjects with the main focus on Tina. The story starts when little Annie Mae Bullock, an innocent 16-year-old in house dress and short white socks auditions for Ike Turner, well-known and respected impresario. He becomes her Svengali, her lover and her tormenter.

The story is told with energetic stage sets of the music interspersed with dialogue. It is always great to see the musicians on stage.

What is also great about this production is the use of TV screens to put the story in context. To be black is one setback, to be a woman in an age when - as Malcolm X put it, the position of women was ‘prone’ - is another. The music business in which Tina Turner is engaged is at the centre of a small tornado of change. Her powerful voice, endless energy, great looks and dauntless personality set her apart. The fact that on stage she was a superstar and at home an abused wife was tackled sensitively though grew some gasps from the audience.

The rise of feminism was also a coincidental support for her career and, as she split from Ike, over his legendary unfaithfulness, ‘handiness’ and coke habit, she reinvented herself from nothing and succeeded all over again with songs such as What’s Love Gotta Do With It and Addicted To Love. Her energy is undimmed and this show is a suitable celebration of a wonderful woman. She is ‘Simply the Best’.

Jane Howard