I’ve always been familiar with the music of Tina Turner, but I had no idea that her life was just as remarkable as her career.

From absent parents to abusive partners, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll went through it all, and what better way to tell her story than through her music?

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is currently at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre as part of its nationwide tour, which sees actors Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy alternate the title role.

We saw Elle, who has appeared in Moulin Rouge and Starlight Express, step into the high heels of the formidable singer.

When you think of Tina Turner, you might think of the foot-stomping, stadium-filling rockstar that dominated the 1980s and 1990s, but this Olivier Award-winning show delves deeper into the singer’s turbulent life.

We were taken right back to Anna Mae’s violent childhood, and it didn’t take long to realise that this probably wasn’t going to be the feel-good, toe-tapping musical I was expecting.

When Anna Mae left Nutbush for St Louis and became Tina Turner, after being discovered by Ike Turner and joining his band, we saw a glimmer of hope for the smalltown hero.

Their abusive marriage is well-documented so this came as no surprise, but the brutal beatings were still shocking to see played out on stage.

Thankfully, things turned around after music manager Roger Davies helped reinvigorate Tina’s career and she achieved her first No. 1 single as a solo artist at the age of 44.

But you can read about the ins and outs of Tina’s career on Wikipedia. What this musical does is breathe fresh life into the story, helping audiences reconnect with an artist whose legacy is one of strength, resilience and, of course, a sensational voice.

Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi carried the show, performing in most of the musical numbers. Other characters, such as Ike Turner, played by Kyle Richardson, and Zelma, Tina’s mother, built a well-rounded picture of her life, but Elle was the one tasked with exposing the singer’s highs and lows for almost three hours.

Her voice is, without question, fantastic. She has that soulful depth, gritty edge and sheer power that made Tina’s songs stand out.

Each number was performed exceptionally, but River Deep Mountain High, Better Be Good to Me and Proud Mary really showed off those pipes.

Not only were the vocals on point, but the cast made us feel the emotions along with Tina. From the tender Let's Stay Together to the empowering What's Love Got to Do with It, the audience was fully on that rollercoaster with her.

The finale, which saw Tina perform The Best ahead of her record-breaking concert in Brazil, brought the house down.

Elle fully embodied Tina, adopting her mannerisms with every step, smile, and flick of her hair. It’s the place where Tina truly came to life – on stage, in front of an audience that loved her.

It’s a shame we were sat near a small group of people who were more interested in drinking beer and chatting throughout, but neither the theatre nor the musical can be blamed for that.

This show is a bold, beautiful story about one of the world’s most powerful singers, and it’s a must for any music fan.

Tina: The Tina Musical is at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury until Saturday, November 8. You can book tickets online here.

You can also book tickets by calling 01227 787787.