Picture: Manuel Harlan
Pop Queen Tina Turner has given her royal seal of approval to the latest actress chosen to take over the title role in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre from early October.
After originally playing Tina’s sister Alline Bullock and playing Tina at certain performances, Aisha Jawando (Motown The Musical, The Book of Mormon) will step into the central role full-time from 8 October 2019.
Giving her blessing to her newest on-stage alter-ego, the ‘Simply The Best’ superstar said: “I first met Aisha during early rehearsals for our show. She was in our original West End company playing my sister Alline and I loved her performance.
“It has been special to watch her journey with us and see the development of her extraordinary talent. I am so pleased that Aisha will now lead our company through its next chapter here in London.”
Commenting on her move to centre stage, Jawando said: “I have loved being part of this show from the very beginning, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play this exceptional role. Tina Turner is such an inspirational woman and I hope that I continue to make her proud.”
Now in its second year in the West End, Jawando will take over the leading role in the crowd-pleasing show from Nkeki Obi-Melekwe. Obi-Melekwe will join the Broadway company later this year to play Tina at certain performances. The West End’s original Tina, Adrienne Warren will lead the company at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway from 12 October.
In the West End Ashley Zhangazha will continue in the role of Ike Turner with Madeline Appiah as Zelma, Irene-Myrtle Forrester as GG, Howard Gossington as Phil Spector and Terry Britten, Francesca Jackson as Rhonda Graam, Ava Brennan as Alline Bullock, Jammy Kasongo as Richard Bullock and Raymond Hill, Edward Bourne as Erwin Bach and Oscar Batterham as Roger Davies. Tsemaye Bob-Egbe will play the role of Tina for some performances.
They are joined by ensemble members Daniella Bowen, Chloe Chambers, Joelle Dyson, Joseph Richardson, Lejaun Sheppard, Kibong Tanji, and Cameron Bernard Jones. Bernard Jones also plays Tina’s son Craig with Ashlee Irish who plays Tina’s son Ronnie and swings Gavin Alex, Derek Aidoo, Joshua Da Costa, Amandla Elynah, Hannah Jay-Allan, Angela Marie Hurst, Leisha Mollyneaux and Samuel J. Weir. A children’s cast alternates the roles of Young Anna Mae, Young Alline and Young Craig.
Written by award-winning writer Katori Hall (The Mountaintop) with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, the show’s creative team includes choreographer Anthony Van Laast; set and costume designer Mark Thompson; musical supervisor Nicholas Skilbeck; lighting designer Bruno Poet; sound designer by Nevin Steinberg, projection designer Jeff Sugg and orchestrator Ethan Popp.
Angela Thomas
Tickets for Tina the Musical are available HERE
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