5 days in Adelaide, Australia- 5/17- 5/21/2024
Day 2- Dinner at Shobosho, and Tina, the musical-5/18/2024
Tonight we are having an early dinner around 5:30pm so we can go watch Tina, the musical at 7:30Pm and also to celebrate Hoa's birthday.
We did not have reservation so we walked around Leigh Street and stumble on Shobosho a Japanese restaurant that Blends smoke, steam, and fire like the ancient traditions of Japanese Yakitori with the finesse, skill & texture of all that is raw, cured, pickles, and fermented.
We did not have a reservation but they gave us a seat a Sho, the yakitori bar located at the entrance of the shobosho restaurant.
We were lucky to come early as the restaurant is totally full and they told us that we needed to done by 6:30Pm as the bar was fully booked after 6:30Pm.
 |
 |
It actually worked our very well for us as it was perfectly suited for a quick dinner of "sticks 'n' snacks," which is ideal for our pre-theatre timeline.
Hoa ordered beer and Sake.
 |
 |
On the left is the menu for the restaurant and on the right is Yakitori menu.
 |
 |
The Sho Yakitori bar is designed so that guests can enjoy a series of snacks, dumplings & vegetable options from the Shobosho kitchen, alongside traditional yakitori prepared over the hibachi grill.
|
|
|
The chef grilling the yakitori we ordered.
 |
 |
Sitting at the bar, we are essentially at the heart of the action! The counter seating gives us a direct view of the yakitori pit/hibachi grill. We can see (and smell) the charcoal smoke and fire as the skewers are grilled right in front of us. This is an authentic and interactive Japanese-style dining experience.
 |
 |
Raw Tuna with Charred Edamame, black rice, bonito cream, and Nori.
This is one of their signature dish with high-quality, buttery raw tuna, cut into pieces, the black rice is typically cooked and possibly toasted or puffed to add a wonderful, nutty crunch. The edamame (soybeans) adds a pop of freshness and slight chewiness.
The key element is the creamy, umami-rich dressing.
The
bonito cream
is a savory sauce that incorporates the deep, smoky flavor of dried, fermented
tuna flakes (bonito), giving the dish its savory, "umami-heavy" character.
Salmon Tataki, ponzu Wasabi, another classic "raw" dish from the Shobosho menu. The Salmon Tataki with Ponzu and Wasabi is a lighter, more citrus-forward option compared to the creamy tuna dish we just had.
 |
 |
The technique tataki
means the salmon fillet is very briefly seared on the outside, often with a
quick pass over a flame or a hot pan, leaving the majority of the fish
perfectly raw and cool on the inside.
Tsukune chicken served with a duck egg. Tsukune is made from ground chicken and seasoned with soy sauce, sake, and ginger, and then shaped into patties and grilled on skewers. The egg yolk adds a creamy texture and helps to bind the flavors of the chicken.
Chicken wings, and chicken thighs yakitori
 |
 |
Pork belly, and beef wagyu yakitori
 |
 |
Pork Belly, and salmon belly yakitori.
 |
 |
Heart, and rice cake yakitori.
As you can see there are nobody yet, so the chef is totally catered to us.
We had an excellent here, the food was really fantastic! We timed it so perfectly and finished our meal around 6:30pm and we had enough time to head to the Festival Plaza for the Tina show.
Tina, the musical
We are now at the Festival Plaza that sits at the heart of Adelaide’s Riverbank precinct, and is part of a larger Riverbank revitalization project, connecting the Festival Theatre, the Railway Station, SkyCity, and Elder Park with wide pedestrian areas and public art.
The huge metal trees are part of the Festival Plaza redevelopment, a major transformation completed in the 2020s to turn the area into a lively, modern civic space.
From there we arrived at the Festival Theatre to see the show.
We spotted something quite special! Those transparent, igloo-like domes at Festival Plaza are part of the Raclette Igloo Experience which is a pop-up dining event that turned the plaza into a winter-style cheese-and-social-dining zone. The experience ran from 10 May to 9 June 2024 in Festival Plaza, Adelaide.
Inside each igloo you’d find a table set up for the experience, a raclette grill (the French cheese-melting dish), potatoes, charcuterie, pickles, and even a fire pit outside for marshmallow roasting.
The lighting in the domes had a bluish-tone and the transparent walls would reflect the surrounding plaza lights, which matches what you described (blue lights, people inside, looking like igloos).
These dining igloos, are not just decorative structures, they’re part of a curated event offering a cozy, memorable meal in a unique setting just outside the theatre.
We are now inside the Adelaide Festival theatre at the merchandising counter.
The Adelaide Festival Center is Australia’s first major multi-arts complex, which opened in 1973. It was a landmark project, symbolizing Adelaide’s new cultural identity under Premier Don Dunstan.
Art mural inside the theatre.
We were the few first people to get in the theatre and the interior is designed in a modernist amphitheater style, wrapping the audience around the stage to create intimacy and connection. The rows of red seats add warmth and vibrancy against the dark walls, a classic theatre color that enhances focus on the stage and gives the room a timeless, cinematic feel.
The image of Tina Turner’s eyes projected on the screen is the show’s signature visual, it captures her power, presence, and soul before she even appears. The glowing eyes are symbolic: a reminder of her strength, charisma, and resilience, which the musical celebrates.
 |
 |
The theatre is filling up with people.
As we sat there with the lights dimmed and then the stage came alive with Ruva Ngwenya playing the role of Tina Turner in the Australian production of TINA, The Tina Turner Musical.
The production itself was vibrant and full of life.
Ruva was fantastic and the stage was as electrifying, full of joy, movement, and iconic songs like Simply the Best, What’s Love Got to Do with It, Nutbush City Limits, and Proud Mary.
The lighting and production design stand out: high-impact concert style lighting, strong choreography, live band sound, projection, and a set that moves through Tina’s life, from her early years in Tennessee to her triumphant comeback.
Ruva performing.
Ruva began her professional career in about 2013 (her first major role was as Shenzi in The Lion King) and over the years performed in musicals like We Will Rock You, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ragtime and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
She was quoted saying that embodying Tina Turner is an honor, and she connects with the energy, passion and rawness of Tina’s voice.
The Tina Turner Musical was nothing short of electrifying. The star of the show, Ruva Ngwenya, delivered a powerhouse performance that captured Tina Turner’s unmistakable voice, strength, and energy. Ruva, an accomplished Australian performer that embodied Tina with both grace and raw emotion, earning every cheer from the audience.
The stage exploded with colorful lighting, dazzling costumes, and high-energy choreography, as dancers surrounded Tina during her most iconic songs. Each scene flowed like a concert, pulsing with rhythm, movement, and the unmistakable beat of rock ’n’ roll.
By the final scene, the atmosphere was electric. The entire theatre rose to its feet, clapping and singing along, a perfect finale that celebrated not only Tina Turner’s legendary career but her enduring spirit of joy, resilience, and power.
Tonight, we went to see TINA, The Tina Turner Musical to celebrate Hoa’s birthday, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect night. When the lights dimmed and Ruva Ngwenya stepped on stage as Tina, the energy in the room lifted instantly. She was absolutely fantastic, her voice, movement, and presence captured Tina’s power and warmth so beautifully. The production was vibrant and colorful, with dancers surrounding Tina in every scene, filling the stage with rhythm and joy. By the final number, the whole theatre came alive, lights flashing, fireworks effects bursting, and music thundering through the hall. Everyone was on their feet clapping and singing along. It was such a fun, electrifying night, a perfect way to celebrate Hoa’s birthday and our time in Adelaide.
NEXT... South Australian Museums