Last night I headed into Manchester to watch my all-time favourite show, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, at the Palace Theatre, as part of its 2026 UK tour, and omg wow! But that won’t cut it, so I will try to put into words how much I adored this spectacular, indulgent, glorious feel-good production. Everybody in life occasionally needs an injection of joy, and Priscilla is it!
This was my 4th time watching Priscilla, and it definitely will not be my last. However, this version has been slightly reimagined. I guess these things have to evolve, and with a production with such a cult status, it’s a way of giving fans a little more, without changing the heart and soul of what makes people come back for more, again and again.
What You Will Find Here
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Review
Set in Australia, Tick, also known as Mitzi to her friends (perfectly played by Kevin Clifton), decides to take a sabbatical and travel across the desert with two of her close friends and fellow drag queens Bernadette (Adele Anderson) and Felicia (Nick Hayes).
Tick convinces the girls to travel to hold a show. However, this is only part of the reason; the other is to meet Ticks’ son Benjy (the adorable Harper Etienne), whom he had never met.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert Tracks The Trials Of Travelling Across Australia As Drag Queens.
But also how these amazing ladies face prejudice and change some minds through love, music, determination and guts.
You very quickly fall in love with Tick, Bernadette and Felicia as they travel in their run-down RV Priscilla. Fighting not only every backwards town they encounter, but also their own demons. Additionally, how they overcome other people’s bigotry to finally accept and love themselves. Even finding love in the most unusual of places.
This is possibly the best chorus I have ever seen or heard in a show, and that’s a hard act to follow after some of the truly wonderful productions I have enjoyed. At times, the singing felt like an extraordinary choir; the beauty radiating from the stage was stunning, camp and joyous, which took my breath away. And the changes to the production were subtle, but I loved them.
However Priscilla The Queen Of The Desert Is No One Trick Pony
It offers a wonderful balance of incredible music, characters you adore, touching moments, life lessons and comedy that has you laughing right from the tips of your toes. It truly is a festival of everything that is good and wonderful in the world.
The set was simple; the whole feature of the show was Priscilla, the RV, which worked perfectly alongside the makeup and costumes of dreams. Seriously, who would not love to wear those outfits for just an hour?
The standing ovation went on for ages. The audience could not wait to stand up and dance along, not wanting the magic to end.
Where Can You See Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Should you see Priscilla Queen Of The Desert? I defy anyone not to leave the theatre smiling from ear to ear. Priscilla is on a national tour until June. If you love being happy, you will love Priscilla.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert is showing at the Palace Theatre until the 28th February with tickets from £15 and then at….
- King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 2 Mar – Sat 7 Mar 2026
- Liverpool Empire, Mon 9 Mar – Sat 14 Mar 2026
- Edinburgh Playhouse, Tue 14 Apr – Sat 18 Apr 2026
- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Mon 4 May – Sat 9 May 2026
- New Victoria Theatre, Woking, Mon 11 May – Sat 16 May 2026
- Theatre Royal Brighton, Tue 16 Jun – Sat 20 Jun 2026
Please note, I was gifted the tickets, but a review was optional. Also, see where to eat and park near the Palace Theatre.
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