STANDING ovations are rare occurrences amid the somewhat sedate surroundings of this lovely old theatre.

So when the entire audience rose as one to salute the star of Soul Sister on its opening night in Windsor, it was obviously in response to something very special indeed.

The adulation bestowed on Jenny Fitzpatrick for her performance of Tina Turner in this fast-moving, fascinating show is thoroughly deserved. She sings her heart out, acts with panache and dances with enormous energy.

She recreates the famous Tina strut and pout to perfection, with all the raunchy, mannerisms. Damn it, she even has the Turner legs! But there was more to her performance than just a straightforward take-off of one of rock's legendary stars.

With well-researched accuracy, she portrays the singer from her arrival in St Louis as an innocent church-going teenager, through the highs and lows of her tempestuous marriage to Ike Turner, to her sensational comeback as a solo performer in the 1980s.

Jenny herself has come a long way since her first professional engagement in A Midsummer Night's Dream, at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

So has her co-star Chris Tummings, who gives an equally praiseworthy performance as Ike Turner, the manipulative, penny-pinching, womanising musical genius who treats Tina so appallingly, his quickfire temper worsened by drugs.

This is far more than just another jukebox musical. It lifts the lid on the injustices, discrimination and prejudices faced by black people in the USA in the 50s and 60s, as well as illustrating the hardships endured by musicians struggling to make a breakthrough.

In one scene the band drive 500 miles through the night straight after a gig and, in another, rehearse in a freezing cold theatre. Yet amid all the despair and hardship is the love story of Ike and Tina Turner who, despite everything stay together for 20 years to produce some of pop's greatest records.

River Deep, Mountain High is regarded by some critics as the finest pop song of all time, yet ironically Ike had very little to do with it.

The show, devised and directed by Pete Brooks and John Miller, is enhanced immeasurably by the presence of a highly-skilled live band and four hugely-energetic and multi-talented backing singers and dancers, portraying the Ikettes.

All contribute enormously to the success of this tremendous piece of live theatre.

A mention too for the stage crew, who use a natty system of sliding screens to almost-magically whisk the main performers on and off stage smoothly and with perfect timing. The slickness of the action is enhanced by the use of videos and contemporary press cuttings projected on the backdrop.

Be warned though, the music is played at a high volume. At times, particularly in the final stages, it is far too loud for the small venue. So, Mr Soundman, how about giving the volume control just a teeny turn?

Tina Turner is still making the news, having married her long-term partner Erwin Bach in Switzerland last month. The wedding was somewhat overshadowed by the Oprah Winfrey 'handbag incident', proving that even after all this time, many of those old injustices are still unfortunately with us.

Soul Sister is at The Theatre Royal, Windsor, until Saturday August 17. Contact the box office on 01753 853888 or www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk .