“Manuka honey and a steamer are a godsend,” laughs Jenny Fitzpatrick.

And you can imagine they would be if you were playing the Queen of Rock Tina Turner every night of the week – and with a pair of matinees to boot.

“I’ve had some quite big jobs over the years, but this is ridiculous,” the star of Soul Sister grins. “I have 24 songs and with this being Tina Turner they are all big numbers.

“But I’d seen the show before I went for it, which I thought was fantastic, so I was very, very aware of what it entailed. And my parents are huge Tina Turner fans so I grew up with her.”

Creator John Miller says any actress who takes on the role of the diminutive pop diva also needs to be an athlete, with the demanding two-and-a-half hour show packed with dance numbers.

Soulful: A night of great tunes will be in store for visitors to the Empire
Soulful: A night of great tunes will be in store for visitors to the Empire

Lucky then that Jenny has a black belt in karate as well as having been acting and dancing since the age of 13 when she joined a theatre school in Hornchurch in her native Essex.

She trained at Mountview Academy of Performing Arts and since graduating almost a decade ago has appeared in some of the UK’s top stage musicals including Oliver! , Madness show Our House, and as Louise in Ghost at both its premiere in Manchester and then when it transferred to the West End.

TV appearances include Silent Witness, EastEnders and MI High, while she’s also penned a film, released last year and called Payback Season.

Playing a living, breathing cultural icon is a bit different though.

Boogie on down: You'll be dancing in the aisles during the show
Boogie on down: You'll be dancing in the aisles during the show

“That was the big challenge,” says the 30-year-old of inhabiting the persona of Tina Turner. “I never wanted to be a caricature. She has so many quirks that are well-known.

“But luckily she’s always been part of my life, and one of my big inspirations. And I know I can trust the script enough to put my own spin on what I feel is Tina Turner.”

Love a bit of Tina? Blast out our playlist of her hits

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Soul Sister will visit Liverpool Empire from August 5-10. Call 0844 871 3017, or visit www.atgtickets.com/liverpool or see full information about Soul Sister on our new events guide.