If you’ve ever felt the electricity of a live performance ripple through your body – the kind that makes your skin prickle and your heart race – TINA – A Tropical Love Story is about to light you up. This February, audiences are invited into a world of heat, heart and high-voltage glamour, led by an extraordinary cast including Ursula Yovich, fresh from her acclaimed Sydney Festival performance Ursula Yovich Sings Nina Simone.
Created and performed by celebrated First Nations drag artist Ben Graetz (aka Miss Ellaneous), TINA – A Tropical Love Story is not just a tribute to the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll – it’s a deeply personal, joy-fuelled theatrical event that pulses with identity, community and unapologetic queer power. With Yovich’s unmistakable presence anchoring the ensemble, the show blends storytelling and cabaret, drag and memory, all set to a soundtrack that changed lives.
This is Tina Turner as icon, inspiration, and ignition point.
One night. One concert. A life changed forever.
Darwin Amphitheatre, November 1993. Under a sweltering Territory night sky, a young First Nations boy stands in the crowd as Tina Turner storms the stage. Legs. Leather. Power. Presence. In that moment, something cracks open – a future suddenly feels imaginable.
TINA – A Tropical Love Story begins here, tracing the ripple effects of that electrifying encounter and following a journey of self-discovery, sequins, survival and transformation. It’s a coming-of-age story told through music, memory and movement – a love letter to the artists who show us who we might become.
At its heart, this is a story about visibility. About seeing strength and freedom embodied so boldly that it gives permission to dream bigger, louder, brighter.
More than a tribute – a celebration of becoming
This is not a greatest-hits impersonation show, and it has no interest in polite nostalgia. TINA – A Tropical Love Story joyfully smashes the expected mould, blending personal storytelling with drag spectacle and live performance to create something richer, messier and more alive.
Graetz doesn’t just honour Tina Turner’s legacy – he dialogues with it. Through sharp humour, moments of vulnerability and explosive musical numbers, the show explores how Tina’s story of reinvention and resilience resonated across continents and cultures, reaching into the Top End and into the life of a queer First Nations kid searching for his place in the world.
It’s about what it means to grow up different in a place that doesn’t always make room for difference. It’s about finding strength in icons, and family in community. And it’s about the radical power of joy – loud, excessive, glitter-soaked joy – as a force for survival.
As ArtsHub wrote in their ????? review:
“Breaking the well-worn mould of the tribute show, this dazzling production excels in its capacity to create joy.”
Theatre that struts, sweats and sings
Directed, written and co-produced by Graetz, TINA – A Tropical Love Story moves with the rhythm of a rock concert and the emotional precision of a memoir. One moment you’re laughing at a razor-sharp observation; the next, you’re caught off guard by a moment of tenderness that lands straight in the chest.
The production balances spectacle and intimacy with confidence. There are big, full-throttle numbers that honour Tina Turner’s unstoppable stage presence – but there are also quiet, reflective moments that let the story breathe. It’s in this contrast that the show truly shines, reminding us that glamour and gravity can coexist beautifully.
This is theatre that understands its audience. It entertains without emptying itself of meaning, and dazzles without losing emotional depth.
A powerhouse ensemble and a community on stage
Graetz is joined by an extraordinary cast of performers, each bringing their own voice, history and brilliance to the stage. Featuring Ursula Yovich, Cleopatra Pryce, Dana Dizon, Scott Hunter, Tynga Williams and Felicia Fox, the show becomes a collective celebration of First Nations excellence, drag artistry and LGBTIQ+ storytelling.
Together, they create a world that feels generous, sweaty, joyful and alive. Each performance adds a new texture – whether through song, movement or sheer stage presence – building a sense of community that extends beyond the footlights.
This isn’t just representation; it’s celebration. The audience isn’t merely watching – they’re invited in, swept up in the rhythm, the laughter, the shared memory. You feel the heat of Darwin. You feel the pulse of the music. You feel the love.
Why TINA – A Tropical Love Story matters now
At a time when queer and First Nations stories are too often sidelined, TINA – A Tropical Love Story stands proudly at the centre. It insists on visibility, insists on joy, and insists on honouring the artists who made survival feel possible.
Tina Turner’s story – of endurance, reinvention and reclaiming power – resonates deeply here. Through Graetz’s lens, she becomes more than a superstar. She becomes a guide, a spark, a reminder that strength can be loud, sensual and defiantly joyful.
This is a show about becoming who you are, even when the world makes that difficult. Especially then.
Why you should see it (even if you “don’t know Tina”)
Here’s the thing: TINA – A Tropical Love Story isn’t just about Tina Turner. Tina is the flame – but the fire is identity, community and joy.
This is theatre for anyone who’s ever found themselves through music, who’s ever searched for belonging, who’s ever needed to see someone survive – and thrive – out loud. Whether you come for the drag, the storytelling, the nostalgia or the sheer spectacle, you’ll leave feeling lifted.
Funny, fierce and full of heart, TINA – A Tropical Love Story is a high-voltage celebration of queer culture, First Nations storytelling and the transformative power of performance.
Simply the Best?
Better believe it.
The details you need
TINA – A Tropical Love Story
Bondi Pavillion
12–14 February 2026 | 7:30pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Suitability: 15+ (adult themes, strobe, smoke and haze)
Tickets:
Full $59 | Concession $49 | Mob Tix $30 | Under 30s $30
A Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras event.
If you like theatre that’s joyful, bold, unapologetic and powered by love – don’t miss this one.