Review by Markus Hamence – Tina, A Tropical Love Story – Performance date: Monday 09 March 2026. Tandanya, Adelaide, South Australia. (Lead image credit: Joseph Mayers)
At the beating heart of the 2026 Adelaide Fringe, ‘Tina, A Tropical Love Story’ explodes onto the stage like a sequinned lightning bolt – part cabaret, part drag spectacular, part deeply personal storytelling. Created and performed by First Nations drag artist Ben Graetz, in the fabulous persona of Miss Ellaneous, the show isn’t just a tribute to the legendary Tina Turner. It’s a celebration of identity, resilience and the electric moment when music changes a life.
Set against the memory of a life-shifting night in 1993 at the Darwin Amphitheatre, where a young boy first witnessed the unstoppable force of Tina Turner, the show unfolds as a vibrant journey of transformation. Graetz blends drag glamour with storytelling that is warm, witty and unapologetically heartfelt, reflecting on growing up in Darwin and discovering confidence through the power of performance.
Simply The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With, Proud Mary, Private Dancer… they all got a nod of course and done very well. But the live singing power-force of Elaine Crombie blew the night out-of-the-park with ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero’, EPIC, she owned that sh*t!
“A fun frolicking night, and I’m a harsh critic when it come to the subject of the divine Queen Turner.”
Markus Hamence
Shout out to the dancing diva ‘Tiny Tina’ too. A total energiser bunny. In fact the lineup of dancers were all brilliant. Choreography: Tick! Costumes: Tick! Miss Ellaneous’ ‘Tina’ Wig: Tick! A fun frolicking night, and I’m a harsh critic when it come to the subject of the divine Queen Turner.
What makes this Fringe gem truly sparkle is its high-energy cabaret spirit. The stage becomes a tropical playground of glitter, fierce vocals and dazzling drag artistry, with a cast of performers from the drag, First Nations and queer performance scene helping to ignite the room. The energy is infectious – big dance numbers, bold costumes and that unmistakable Tina swagger that has the audience clapping along and waiting for the inevitable Nutbush moment.
But beneath the sequins and sass lies a beautiful message about culture, community and self-expression. Graetz brings genuine heart to the performance, weaving humour and vulnerability into a story about finding your voice and owning your place in the world. The show celebrates the legacy of Tina Turner while also honouring the strength of First Nations storytelling and queer performance culture.
‘Tina, A Tropical Love Story’ is everything Adelaide Fringe does best – bold, joyful and full of personality. It’s a show that invites you to dance, laugh and feel something real all at once. Simply the best? On this tropical, glitter-drenched stage, it absolutely feels that way.
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