Review: Soul Sister (From Swindon Advertiser)

Review: Soul Sister

6:50pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News By Pauline Leighton

SOME 25 years ago I saw Tina Turner strut her considerable stuff at the Oxford Apollo.

She was incredible... all legs, voice and raunch.

This week I watched her again in Swindon... played by Casualty and Holby City star Emi Wokoma.

And fair play to you Emi, you have her off to a tee. All glitz and guts.

There came a point towards the end of the show where I was pretty much convinced I was watching the great lady herself.

Soul Sister is the story of Ike and Tina Turner, the husband and wife duo who fought their way out of a world of racism and segregation to become soul icons.

But at the expense of their marriage.

There is true drama in the Ike and Tina story. He was her mentor, a musical giant who could not live with the fame and adulation his protege attracted.

Soul Sister tackles this well-documented story, but the drama takes second place to the music.

And that’s what Soul Sister is... a musical, and a very good one at that.

Emi Wokoma and Chris Tummings are rock solid as Ike and Tina. Expect all the classics... River Deep, Mountain High, Simply The Best, Private Dancer, Proud Mary.

No Nutbush City Limits I’m afraid, but we managed to live without it.

• Soul Sister runs at the Wyvern Theatre until Saturday. To book tickets log on to www.wyverntheatre.org.uk or call 01793 524481.