Aisha Jawando To Lead TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Beginning October 8

Aisha Jawando, who has been with the Company since its world premiere in Spring 2018, steps up to play the title role in Tina - THE Tina TURNER MUSICAL from 8 October 2019. Having originally played Tina's sister Alline Bullock, Jawando has subsequently performed the iconic role of Tina at certain performances.

Tina Turner said: "I first met Aisha during early rehearsals for our show. She was in our original West End Company playing my sister Alline and I loved her performance. It has been special to watch her journey with us and see the development of her extraordinary talent. I am so pleased that Aisha will now lead our company through its next chapter here in London."

Aisha Jawando said: "I have loved being part of this show from the very beginning, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play this exceptional role. Tina Turner is such an inspirational woman and I hope that I continue to make her proud."

Based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner, Tina - THE Tina TURNER MUSICAL will continue its open-ended run in London at the Aldwych Theatre with new seats on sale this Autumn.

Jawando takes on the leading role from Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, who will join the Broadway company later this year to play Tina at certain performances. Adrienne Warren, who originated the role here in the West End, will lead the Broadway cast.

Aisha Jawando's London theatre credits include the title role in Cinderella at the Hackney Empire, The Life at Southwark Playhouse, Martha Reeves in the original London cast of Motown The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Fela at the National Theatre, The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and Soul Sister at the Savoy Theatre.

From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner didn't just break the rules, she rewrote them. This new stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race.

In the West End, Ashley Zhangazha continues as Ike Turner with Madeline Appiah who plays the role of Tina's mother Zelma, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe will play the role of Tina at some performances each week, Irene-Myrtle Forrester as Tina's Grandmother GG, Howard Gossington as Record Producer Phil Spector and Lyricist Terry Britten, Francesca Jackson as Ike and Tina's manager Rhonda Graam, Ava Brennan as Tina's sister Alline Bullock, Jammy Kasongo as Tina's father Richard Bullock and Tina's first love Raymond Hill, Edward Bourne as record company Marketing Manager Erwin Bach and Oscar Batterham as Tina's Manager Roger Davies.

Ensemble members are Daniella Bowen, Chloe Chambers, Joelle Dyson, Lejaun Sheppard, Joseph Richardson, Kibong Tanji, Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli, Cameron Bernard Jones who also plays Tina's son Craig and Ashlee Irish who plays Tina's son Ronnie, and swings Gavin Alex,Derek Aidoo, Joshua Da Costa, Amandla Elynah, Hannah Jay-Allan, Angela Marie Hurst, Leisha Mollyneaux and Samuel J. Weir. They are joined by the children's cast who alternate the roles of Young Anna Mae, Young Alline and Young Craig.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, Tina - THE Tina TURNER MUSICAL is choreographed by Anthony van Laast, with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting byBruno Poet, sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.

The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in April 2018 in London and subsequently has broken all Box Office records at the Aldwych Theatre. Earlier this year the German premiere of Tina - THE Tina TURNER MUSICAL began performances at the Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg and the musical will begin Broadway performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre from 12 October 2019.

TINA - THE Tina TURNER MUSICAL is produced in the West End by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.