Tina (The Tina Turner Musical) - Aldwych

It’s the second time in a week I’ve had that glitch with TodayTix rush. The other show I wasn’t so fussed about thankfully and grabbed something else.

Then there was the Hairspray incident the week before where the rush seat I had had been sold to five people (not all through rush). The theatre sorted it well. But there are certainly a few bugs in the system!

The guy next to me has just looked around bewildered and asked “Is that the end?”

I was tempted to say half-time based on his attire, but someone else got in first to say it was the interval.

He’s gone to the bar!

Late start, but we got in eventually. Very good so far and the crowd is more restrained than I’ve seen here before. We still got a phone going off, ice rattling, phone lights, bit of singing etc, but pretty good for a jukebox musical crowd.

There are even a few people wearing masks! They were doing proper Covid pass checks and much more thorough bag checks on the way in a long time!

A woman has just apologised to the audience around here for using the “C word” in response to Ike’s actions. I missed that completely!

The most excitement I’ve had during a theatre interval in a long time!

Yes, as oxydrive has mentioned, it was a very good show. And a very long show (10:35pm finish).

I had an awkward conversation with the football fan when he returned, a nice guy but I did rather simplify my responses (and had to avoid saying how much I paid for my ticket, as that doesn't go down well).

There was an irritating light that kept showing in the centre of the Stalls. For a long time, I thought it was someone filming, but it was probably a notetaker for the show.

What really surprised me is how few people seemed to know it was the first performance in 18 months. It was a slow standing ovation and crowd held back their cheers. I always dislike the booing of Jimmy Kasango (Ike).

Aisha Jawando was an absolute powerhouse as Tina Turner. The best I've heard anyone sing these songs (but it is only the third time I've seen the musical and the first time in about 2 years - I'd forgotten a lot of the details). At the end of the show, she (and Jimmy) were presented with flowers and she got quite emotional in her speech, which is quite understandable.

(just checked my comments from the last time I saw the show and I also saw Aisha last time, but then she was the alternate - I also see I rated her very highly then, but she is even better now)

Although I was at the back of the Stalls, the view is clear and the you don't miss anything on the stage despite the overhang from the Dress Circle. I'd prefer to sit near the front, but it was worth sitting there to be at the first performance (even if it is was not as magical as some). The cast really slipped back into their roles as if they had never been away. I think there have been some changes so it must have been the debut for some people too.

This isn't the musical people expect. A lot of people expect a concert where they can drink, sing and dance along. It is actually a rather horrific story about a whole community. Tina herself gets redemption, but you have to feel for all the others who suffered through it and never got theirs. It is very different to most jukebox musicals. If this was simply a musical without Tina's songs behind it, it would attract a different audience and I'm sure we'd think about it in a different way. This all just goes to show that life is stranger than fiction. With the right cast and audience, there's a gem of a show here.

Does anyone know if there are any usual/scheduled performances where Aisha is not on as Tina?

Looks like it was Chanel, she posted on Instagram a few days ago saying she is due to be on as Tina on Monday evening.

I also had the pleasure of seeing Chanel as Tina back in November and she was flawless, a superb performance! I would go as far as saying Tina was the best show I saw last year. I’ve never seen acting at that level in a musical before, Chanel is stunning as Tina Turner.

Thank you for solving the seating mystery too! I booked via TodayTix when I went and was allocated AZ. After looking on the theatres website I assumed this was not the front row (due to the seating map showing it was not) so was very shocked to arrive and find out it was!

With Chanel as alternate Tina, does anyone know if she has set days each week that she's on, or if it changes week to week? I know I've seen her on a Monday before (and she is incredible) and would like to see her again at some point.

Booked this for tonight on a whim whilst visiting London this weekend and I am blown away. Chanel Haynes is out of this world as Tina, it’s as close as seeing Tina as there must be. Just disappears into the role and completely owns it.

Really didn’t expect to like this much, but one of my favourite things I’ve seen in a long time!

I'd guess not until the London production finishes, which still seems to be doing very good business (unlike Broadway).

Saw this tonight, front row courtesy of Today Tix Rush. Show was decent but Chanel Haynes is unbelievably good as Tina.

Wonder what’s gone on? Very annoying when you see this sort of post and they don’t actually say what went down but everyone comments like they know 😐

What I gather from the comments is it’s something to do with her performing with the Rolling Stones