New Trailer Released for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT UK and Ireland Tour

A brand new trailer has been released for the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, offering audiences a vibrant first glimpse of the dazzling new production that has begun its journey across the region.

Based on the much loved 1994 Australian film The Adventures of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, the stage musical follows three friends who travel across the Australian outback in a battered lavender bus named Priscilla. Along the way, they perform drag shows, confront personal struggles, and navigate the prejudice and challenges they encounter on their journey. The story blends comedy, spectacle and emotional honesty, exploring themes of identity, friendship and self acceptance while celebrating the joy of performance.

The new touring production launched in February at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, marking the beginning of a wide reaching itinerary that will see the show travel across the United Kingdom and Ireland throughout 2026.

At the centre of the production is a cast led by Adèle Anderson as the elegant and sharp witted Bernadette, Kevin Clifton as Tick, also known as drag performer Mitzi, and Nick Hayes as the exuberant Felicia, whose alter ego Adam provides much of the show’s flamboyant comic energy. Peter Duncan also appears as Bob, the mechanic who becomes an unexpected companion on the trio’s journey.

Supporting them is a lively ensemble that brings the musical’s colourful world to life. Dakota Starr appears as alternate Bernadette, while the show’s iconic trio of Divas is performed by Leah Vassell, Bernadette Bangura and Jessie May. The wider company includes performers such as Shirley, Garry Lee, Billie Hardy, Isabella Glanznig Santos and Sario Solomon, alongside a strong ensemble cast that fills the stage with high energy choreography and spectacle.

Behind the scenes, the production is guided by an experienced creative team. Direction comes from Olivier Award nominated director Ian Talbot, whose work has shaped several major musical theatre productions. Choreography is by Matt Cole, promising high impact dance numbers that celebrate the show’s disco infused spirit.

The visual world of the tour is equally ambitious. Set and lighting design are handled by Andrew Exeter, while BAFTA winning costume designer Vicky Gill, known for her work on STRICTLY COME DANCING, has created more than one hundred costumes for the production. The result is expected to be a glittering spectacle filled with feathers, sequins and dramatic transformations that honour the show’s reputation for bold theatrical design.

Additional members of the creative team include associate director Sam Holmes, sound designer Ben Harrison and video designer Leo Flint. Hair and make up design comes from Craig Forrest Thomas, while casting is overseen by David Grindrod for Grindrod Burton Casting. Together they help shape the vibrant theatrical experience that has made PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT a global musical theatre favourite.

The musical itself is structured as a jukebox musical, featuring an extensive soundtrack made up of popular disco and pop hits from the 1980s and 1990s. Songs such as It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun form the backbone of the show’s musical numbers, turning each performance into a high energy celebration of dance floor classics.

Since its premiere as a stage musical in 2006, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT has enjoyed an impressive international life. The production originated in Australia before transferring to London’s West End in 2009 and Broadway in 2011. Numerous international tours and revivals have followed, cementing its reputation as one of the most exuberant and visually striking jukebox musicals of the past two decades.

The new UK and Ireland tour continues that legacy with a wide reaching schedule of stops across major theatre venues. Following its Manchester opening, the production travels to Glasgow’s King’s Theatre, Liverpool Empire and Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre, before visiting Birmingham Hippodrome and Norwich Theatre Royal. The tour continues through cities including Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Nottingham, before heading to venues in Aylesbury, Woking and Canterbury. Later dates include performances in Belfast, Dublin, Brighton, Leicester, Bradford and Truro.

For audiences unfamiliar with the story, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT centres on a road trip taken by two drag queens and a transgender woman as they travel from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform a cabaret show. Along the way they encounter colourful characters, hostile attitudes and moments of unexpected kindness, all while confronting their own fears and vulnerabilities. Beneath the glitter and humour, the show explores themes of resilience, chosen family and the courage required to live authentically.

With its combination of comedy, heartfelt storytelling and crowd pleasing music, the musical has remained a favourite for theatre audiences worldwide. The release of the new trailer provides a taste of the spectacle and humour that the production promises to deliver as it travels across the UK and Ireland throughout the year.

As the tour continues to roll into theatres across the region, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT once again invites audiences to climb aboard the iconic bus and join a journey filled with glitter, disco anthems and unapologetic self expression.