Tina Turner will find it "painful" seeing her ex-husband Ike Turner portrayed on stage.
The 77-year-old singer has given her seal of approval to the casting of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as her late former spouse, who she accused of abusing her and controlling her life, in upcoming musical ‘Tina’, but she knows seeing their marriage played out will bring up bad memories of the past.
She told the Daily Mail newspaper: "It might be painful having to watch him on stage. but I know he’s being played by an actor and he can’t hurt me."
Meanwhile, Kobna was overjoyed to land the role after being invited to audition by casting director Pippa Ailion, who remembered him from when he tried out for ‘The Lion King’.
The ‘Paddington 2’ actor realised he "desperately wanted" to play Ike after being recalled twice for auditions.
He said: "I realised I loved the music, always had, and Tina Turner’s this amazing icon. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved."
‘Tina’ is Kobna’s first major musical production and he admitted it wasn’t his original passion after studying at the Guildford School of Acting.
He said: "I have sung, and I do sing, but early on I was really interested in straight plays and films and television.
"[When projects come up], I tell people I can sing but they never quite hear it."
The musical follows the ‘Private Dancer’ singer’s turbulent years with Ike and her freedom when she walked out on him, but Kobna wants to show depth to his stage alter ego.
He said of his approach to the role: "There’s more detail to these horrific broken souls. I’ve always played rather good guys, so it’s nice to explore how a broken soul becomes that way."
Tina has worked closely with director Phyllida Lloyd, writer Katori Hall and producer Tali Pelman, on the London production, which is set to open at London’s Aldwych Theatre in April 2018.
Arienne Warren was previously confirmed to be playing Tina, while it has now been announced Aisha Jawando, Sia Kiwa and Tanisha Spring will play backing vocalists The Ikettes, Madeline Appiah will be the ‘Best’ singer’s mother, Zelma, Tom Goodwin is producer Phil Spector and Jenny Fitzpatrick has been cast as the alternate Tina.
Former ‘Hollyoaks’ actor Gerard McCarthy and Ryan O’Donnell have also landed parts in the production, as marketing executive Erwin Bach and manager Roger Davies respectively.
Tina Turner prepared for stage show ‘pain’
