Simply the best
Adelaide is set to experience the electrifying and inspiring smash hit show, TINA – the Tina Turner Musical.
We sit down with Adelaide-born cast member Nadia Komazec to discuss her background and role as Tina Turner’s long-time friend and manager, Rhonda Graam.
sa move: How did you get into dance and theatre?
My mum owns the Barbara Jayne Dance Centre in Norwood. When she was eight months pregnant with me, she was still teaching six days a week, so the rhythm got into me. From walking age, I was learning the different facets of dance from Mum, and I had some singing lessons along the way.
I auditioned for the role when I was 39 weeks pregnant and wasn’t sure I could go through with it – I could barely breathe, let alone sing. A week or so after I auditioned, I gave birth and soon after I had a callback for another audition. I still had stitches during the second audition but received a call from my agent a couple of weeks later saying I had the role.
sa move: What’s best about visiting and performing in your hometown?
I love performing to Adelaide audiences. They’re welcoming and very excited because we don’t always get every mainstream musical here. When one arrives, everyone seems to go wild for it. It’s nice to bring a show back home where everyone can see the hard work that goes into it.
My husband and I are big foodies and love the Adelaide Central Market. We might also do a Barossa trip in our decked-out camper van which has a built-in cot for our toddler.
There’ll be lots of family time and catching up too. After a show, I love seeing the reactions of people I know. And my family is so proud. That means the world after years of being away on tour.
sa move: Tell us about your role in TINA – The Tina Turner Musical.
I play Rhonda Graam, who was Tina’s friend and original manager. Rhonda managed Tina and her husband Ike and they became best friends. Rhonda was Tina’s maid of honour when she married [her second husband] Erwin Bach. She stood by Tina through her adversities with Ike and the music industry. They were a powerhouse female friendship duo.
sa move: What can audiences expect from the show?
First and foremost, a rock and roll concert, because Tina was the queen of rock and roll. Towards the end, in particular, you feel as if you’re watching Tina in concert.
Expect to be confronted by the adversities she faced when she was with Ike. We take a hard look at their relationship and some of the abuse she endured, so it can be quite confronting. But above all, it’s a story of inspiration that she had the most success in her 40s. That doesn’t happen very often for women in the entertainment industry.
You leave thinking, ‘What a woman’. Many people don’t realise what she went through behind the scenes, so you’ll learn about her upbringing and her life. You’ll probably leave belting out Tina Turner songs all the way home and for the rest of the week.
Tina was a powerhouse – a wonderful, strong, fierce woman, and that’s what this show is about.
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is on from 24 April to 31 May at the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Festival Theatre.