Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

If you’re longing for a glitzy, exuberant, glamorous, colourful show and can’t wait for panto season again, then Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the show for you.  With sumptuous sparkling costumes, drag queens a plenty, high octane disco music and some raunchy dance routines, this show gives you non-stop entertainment.

Based on the 1994 Australian film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the story follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they travel across the Outback in a battered bus named Priscilla, performing shows and confronting prejudice, friendship, and identity along the way. What makes the film endure is its blend of camp spectacle and emotional sincerity. The costumes, which later won an Oscar for Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, are outrageous in the best sense, turning the desert into a catwalk of defiant self‑expression. Yet beneath the glitter sits a story about chosen family, resilience, and the quiet courage required to live authentically in hostile spaces. Terence Stamp’s performance as Bernadette is particularly striking: dignified, dryly funny, and unexpectedly tender. Although nominated for many awards, he only won The Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor at the Seattle International Film Festival. The film’s soundtrack, packed with disco classics, amplifies its celebratory spirit without undermining its more grounded moments.

The stage musical, which first premiered in 2006, takes the film’s heart and turns the volume up several notches. It leans fully into spectacle, using the theatre’s live energy to create a party atmosphere that the film only hints at. The musical doubles down on the jukebox format, adding even more disco and pop hits to create a near‑continuous parade of crowd‑pleasers. This new touring production is more extravagant than previous productions, with a stunning array of colourful, sequined costumes, bigger choreography and broader humour that uplifts, energising us all to celebrate life. 

At the heart of the show is the personal journey that the three main characters undertake on their trip across Australia.  Strictly Come Dancing’s Kevin Clifton gives a subtle performance as Tick and with a lovely singing voice, shows he’s more than just an accomplished dancer. Adele Anderson (Fascinating Aida), takes on the iconic role of Bernadette and has some of the best one-liners in the show. Nick Hayes is gloriously flamboyant as Felicia, constantly spatting with Bernadette and getting himself into trouble.  Former Blue Peter presenter, Peter Duncan, clearly relished his role as Bob the mechanic who finds a connection with Bernadette.

The bus itself becomes a character, with clever staging allowing it to be used in different ways with effects that give the journey a heightened, almost fantastical quality. The musical is loud, proud and irresistibly fun showing that self-expression, even in the face of adversity, is a journey worth taking.

Reviewed by:

Yvonne Delahaye (X @ yvonnedelahaye)

5.5.26