Last night (28 August 2012) over 200 theatregoers headed to the Savoy Theatre for our outing to Soul Sister, the new musical inspired by the life and times of Ike and Tina Turner featuring all of the classic Tina Turner hits.
Soul Sister tells the story of Tina and Ike, played by Emi Wokoma (Hairspray) and Chris Tummings (The Harder they Come) live on stage, charting their electric first meeting and meteoric rise to fame through 1960s and 70s America, their turbulent marriage and Tina Turner’s re-emergence as an international icon.
Following the show, many stayed for a Q&A with cast members Emi Wokoma, Chris Tummings, Msimi Dlamini, Sean C Davis and Sean Green (who is also the show’s musical director).
The cast told us how keen they were to show the true relationship between Ike and Tina Turner, which they (as did Tina Turner herself) felt wasn’t portrayed accurately in the film. Emi Wokoma told us how nervous and honoured she was to be playing such an icon, and she was praised by several members of our audience for her performance. Several people had seen Tina Turner live at some point since the ’60s, and everyone complimented Wokoma on her accurate portrayal.
Musical director Sean Green told us when he had first got involved in the production, and the story of rehearsals, and Chris Tummings revealed that Ike Turner’s daughter had contacted him and sent good wishes for his depiction of her father.
The cast also talked about a couple of missing Tina Turner hits from the show which they weren’t able to perform. Finally, Wokoma showed us all how to perfect the ‘Tina walk’, a skill which i’m sure everyone practised on the way home!
To listen to the Q&A, which was hosted by Theo Bosanquet, click the ‘play’ button below; or to subscribe and download from iTunes, click here.
As always, please feel free to email your comments and thoughts about the show, as well as any of your favourite insights from last night to feedback@whatsonstage.com and don’t forget to tweet using #WOSOuting! We would love to hear from you.
– Rosie Bannister
