Tina – The Tina Turner Musical comes to Sydney in 2023

Aisha-Jawando-as-Tina-Turner-photo-by-Manuel-HarlanNSW Minister for Tourism, Stuart Ayres together with TEG DAINTY, Stage Entertainment and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner are thrilled to announce that the smash hit Tina – The Tina Turner Musical will make its Australian premiere at the Theatre Royal Sydney in May 2023!

A celebration of resilience and an inspiration of triumph over adversity, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical reveals a comeback story like no other, of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race to become the global Queen of Rock n’ Roll.

“Hello Sydney! I am so excited to be announcing that Tina – The Tina Turner Musical will be opening in Sydney next year,” said Tina Turner. “Australia has always shared abundant love with me, going back to my early concerts in the late 70’s through the uplifting partnership with the National Rugby League.

“It is very special for me that we will be reunited. The joy, passion and message of resilience in my musical is so important now as ever. Thank you from the bottom my heart for welcoming me with open arms once again,” said Turner.

“Tina Turner is a global icon of music, her songs are timeless classics and her personal life story is one that resonates with so many people,” said NSW Minister for Tourism, Stuart Ayres.

“Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is a critically-acclaimed global sensation that will appeal to a variety of audiences, from young fans to seasoned theatregoers, to people who just love great live music. This universal appeal is why the NSW Government has secured its Australian premiere for Sydney.”

“It will be a major drawcard for visiting and local audiences, cementing Sydney’s position as the nation’s capital of live theatre and providing a significant boost to the state’s visitor economy.”

“Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is another fantastic addition to the calendar of world-class Australian premiere productions the NSW Government is building to deliver on our goal of making Sydney and NSW the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific,” said Mr Ayres.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Tina – The Tina Turner Musical to Australia! TINA will delight fans of musical theatre, but will also appeal to a much broader cross-section of the market due to Tina’s association with and love for Australia, and her long-held icon status in this part of the world,” said Geoff Jones, TEG GROUP CEO.

“I first heard about the possibility of a stage musical portraying Tina’s life 7 years ago and I immediately reached out to Tali Pelman at Stage Entertainment,” said Paul Dainty AM, President, and CEO of TEG DAINTY. “At that point there was no script and no book however I was hooked on the idea of it.”

“We have been on that journey ever since, and here we are today launching the Australian premiere in Sydney! Australians will love this theatrical masterpiece which tells the story of Tina’s life, of empowerment and success, and is ultimately the best music industry comeback story of all time,” said Mr Dainty.

Written by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is directed by Tony Award nominee Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Tony Award nominee Anthony van Laast, set and costume designs by Tony Award nominee Mark Thompson, and musical supervision, additional music and arrangements by Nicholas Skilbeck,

The musical features lighting by Tony Award nominee Bruno Poet, sound by Tony Award nominee Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Tony Award nominee Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Ethan Popp and wigs, hair and makeup design by Drama Desk Award winner Campbell Young Associates.

This new musical based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner and presented in association with Tina Turner herself, received its world premiere in April 2018 in London, where it opened to five-star reviews and has broken box office records at the Aldwych Theatre.

In March 2019, the German production opened at Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg, the Broadway production followed in November 2019 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The Dutch production opened at the Beatrix Theater, Utrecht, in February 2020.

A third European production opened in Fall 2021 at the Teatro Coliseum in Madrid, Spain and the North American Tour will commence in September 2022.

One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.

When she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in October, 2021, Tina Turner became one of only three women in the institution’s history to be inducted twice (she was initially inducted in 1991, alongside Ike Turner).

“I know Australia is very close to Tina’s heart, so we are especially excited to announce our opening in Sydney,” said Producer Tali Pelman. “Our musical is about how Tina became not only the music icon we adore, but the woman who continues to motivate and inspire us today.”

“Everything about Tina is unique – her heart, her story and of course her voice – and we can’t wait for Australians to experience her journey and her triumph through our show,” said Pelman.


Tina – The Tina Turner Musical plays the Theatre Royal Sydney from May 2023. For more information and to join the waitlist for tickets, visit: www.tinathemusical.com.au for details. check the trailer here!

Image: Aisha Jawando as Tina Turner in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (London production) photo by Manuel Harlan