Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical

Stephen Elliott's story of two drag queens and a transgender woman travelling on a journey of discovery across the Australian desert from Sydney to Alice Springs, aboard an old bus called Priscilla, became an instant cult classic when it was made into  a low-budget road comedy back in 1994. The characters, the storyline and the soundtrack were all screaming out for a stage musical to come out of it, and so it did. 'Priscilla Queen of The Desert – The Musical' first fired up its engine in Sydney in 2006, and has been motoring ever since. 

It last parked up here in Norwich four years ago, when local theatre company Sound Ideas performed it at Norwich Theatre Playhouse to enthusiastic reviews. However, it is ten years since a large-scale touring version drove up Theatre Street, meaning that the anticipation of Priscilla's arrival ensured a glittering array of frocks and heels in the audience for Monday's opening performance.

Because everything about this production is big – a live band under the direction of Richard Atkinson bangs out over thirty musical numbers – everything form disco-soul classics to seventies soul, and more Kylie hits than you could shake a stick at, all performed by a cast that features three glittering disco divas that become the vocal alter-egos of our three main characters. The stage design is bold and bright, and the bright colours perfectly match the mood of the songs, the setting, the lead cast and, of course, Priscilla, enormous in her motoring magnificence, and manoeuvred elegantly around the stage to reveal her innermost secrets.

We all know the story, and full credit to director Ian Talbot, costume designer Vicky Gill and choreographer Matt Cole for delivering it in such spectacular style. Kevin Clifton steals the show as Tick – the former Strictly Come Dancing champion certainly has the body and the moves, but also the stage presence and charisma to make the role his. Which he does. Not that Nick Hayes, as fellow drag queen Felicia, is painted into the shade – he most certainly is not. But Tick is on a mission – to travel to Alice Springs to be reunited with his son, and that narrative arc seems to drive the audience on, and root for Clifton's character.