REVIEW: Tina: A Tropical Love Story - Brisbane Powerhouse

TINA — A Tropical Love Story absolutely lit up the Brisbane Festival, blending the sultry pulse of the tropics with the unstoppable electricity of Tina Turner herself.

This vibrant drag-cabaret hybrid, created and performed by the magnetic Miss Ellaneous (Ben Graetz), unfolded as a heartfelt love letter to Darwin, to identity, and to the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll. From the moment the show launched into “Higher” with a burst of sequins and choreography, the packed house roared in approval... and they never quieted down!

Graetz, born in 1977 and raised on disco, swept us through stories of growing up in Darwin and the life-altering moment a young First Nations boy watched Tina Turner dominate the stage in 1993. Those memories flowed beautifully between numbers, accompanied by projections, haze, and twinkling light poles that shimmered like raindrops. The wigs? Iconic. The heels? Crazy. The legs in those heels? Show-stopping.

The soundtrack used live Tina concert tracks, giving the entire night a pulsing, stadium-concert feel. Local talent Garret Lyon delivered a moody and soulful “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” while Kristal West belted the Tina musical’s arrangement of “River Deep, Mountain High.” Even if she didn’t quite hit the hurricane-force energy that song demands, her vocal runs were fabulous.

And then there's the costumes: vibrant, sparkly, and fabulous! Ben’s third look, a Tina dress inspired by the Aboriginal flag, had me floored. Miss Roymata Holmes (Martoya Jackson) strutted through “Simply the Best” in full blonde-wig glory, dedicating the number to First Nations performers everywhere.

Between the sultry “Private Dancer” moment, the fierce confidence in “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”, and a tender rainbow-community duet of “We Don’t Need Another Hero” with Garret and Kristal, the show held space for joy, resilience, and pride. As Ben said, “She connects us in so many ways.” 

By the finale, the crowd was itching to get on their feet. This show would thrive in a venue like The Tivoli or Fortitude Music Hall where dancing is encouraged! A dazzling, heartfelt celebration of country, community, and the icon who helped a young boy find himself. Please bring this one back — Brisbane wants more!