Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Upon arrival in the foyer, chairperson Brenda Arnold greeted us and invited guests to the VIP lounge with generous hospitality.  And what a wonderful evening’s entertainment followed! This show was a sheer spectacle of music with compelling characters and high energy from start to finish. The set design, lighting, and outrageous, outstanding costumes were visually striking from the outset.

In essence this was a show which explored themes of determination, courage, love, friendship and survival and raised issues which resonated for so many during this performance. Language was at times unnecessarily crude in some dialogue and may have surprised some, but this was the script and on observation it did not impact on the overall enjoyment of the performance.

This musical told the story of two drag queens, Tick and Adam; and a transwoman, Bernadette. Together they journeyed across the Australian outback to perform a drag show at a resort town, Alice Springs. Tick informed them that the trip is a favour to his wife, but he did not tell them it was also to meet his son, who wanted to meet him.

As the three friends left Sydney aboard their pink bus, Priscilla, they met some strange characters as well as faced incidents of homophobia. Tick was upset when a homophonic slur was painted on the bus but next day when Priscilla broke down, Adam painted the bus pink to get rid of the insulting vandalism. When the trio arrived in Woop Woop they met Bob. Bob asked the trio to perform at a local, bar but as the trio performed, Cynthia, Bob’s wife, interrupted their act by ‘popping’ ping pong balls.

After the three decided to continue their journey, they expressed gratitude to Bob for his assistance, leaving him alone to reflect on how he felt about Bernadette.  With Priscilla, now repaired by Bob, he decides to accept their invitation to join them on the bus, they hit the adventurous road again onto Coober Pedy, their next destination. Here, Adam dressed up in full drag ended up getting chased and became a victim of hate crime. Fortunately, Bernadette saved him from a brutal assault.  Later, as they arrived back to the bus Bernadette and Adam confided in one another, and what followed was an invitation for Bob to have some champagne with Bernadette.

At their destination, Tick reunited with his son Benji, who welcomed him warmly.  Meanwhile, Adam fulfilled his dream of performing atop Ayers Rock, sparkling in full showgirl sequins and feathers.  The trio considered their experiences and reaffirmed their mutual commitment to friendship and belonging.

Performances throughout the week from Bilston Operatic Company were dedicated to the memory of Laura Leo who was to have appeared on stage as one of the divas.  The cast was understandably affected, and I sensed some distraction at the onset of Act 1; however, this did not diminish the quality of any individual performance, for the cast remained strong and resilient throughout. ‘I Will Survive’ was a standout performance, while “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Always on My Mind” struck a chord with the audience and were delivered with heartfelt emotion in duets.

This was an overall triumph for the production team. Director, Tye Harris skilfully led the cast, inspiring outstanding performances from every actor involved.  The performers had strong chemistry and connection.  The musical numbers were executed with exceptional staging, and the performance maintained a consistently brisk pace.  Tye’s insightful direction brought out the best in the cast. Musical Director, Matt Hall ensured a cohesive and expressive musical experience. Vocal deliveries were well rehearsed, and powerful songs were performed at well-timed moments. Choreographer, Martyn Davies, captured the essence of the music and rhythmic dance numbers were fluid and full of energy. ‘Thank God I’m a Country boy,’ and ‘True Colours’ were great to watch. The entire creative team had evidently worked well together.

The costume management was staggering. There were 514 costumes all in vibrant colours and distinctive; 55 wigs; 150 pairs of shoes and 200 headdresses. All were elaborate and absolutely enhanced the characterisations.

Matt Elson (Tick), Tim Brown (Bernadette), and Adam (Adam) delivered strong individual performances with excellent team chemistry.  Multi-talented Matt delivered an awesome performance as Tick and his duet with Camden Baker playing Benji was a delight.

Tim Brown’s portrayal of Bernadette was impressive, with great comic timing and expressive facial gestures. Adam’s energy filled the stage when he played Adam/Felicia. He was evocative, flamboyant and fabulous!

The Divas, (Stacey Lovatt, Heather Mills and Katie Walker) were dazzling and impactful. Their upbeat arrangements and harmonies blended seamlessly with their slick, coordinated moves.  

Mike James presented his role as Bob with ease and confidence. Amy Frost and Alison Inns characterised their parts of Marion and Shirley, respectively, believably. Izzy Checkett’s performance as Cynthia was mesmerising. as she held our attention popping ping pong balls.

Creditable and convincing performances too, from James Woodward who played Miss Understanding /Frank and Bradley Benson, who took the role of Farrah / young Bernadette; and Stephen Burton-Pye who took the part of Jimmy.

Camden Baker played Benji confidently, and his duet with Matt Elson was genuinely touching.  His performance was inspirational.

Although I was unable to observe Edward Jones in his performance that evening, I am confident that his interpretation of the role would have demonstrated equal promise.  

The rest of the cast delivered lively performances in the crowd scenes, using expressive gestures and animated faces, while the musical numbers were full of energy and radiated a feel-good atmosphere.

The audience loved it! They were buzzing by the end of Act 2. A marvellous musical theatre experience where there was a connection between the performers on stage but also one forged with the audience because it was a magical and immersive performance.

Congratulations to the cast and crew. Thank you for inviting me.

Ann Escritt, Regional Representative district 7.

Sadly, as Regional Councillor, I was unable to attend the VIP performance of Priscilla Queen of the Desert due to another engagement elsewhere. However, I was delighted to attend a later performance along with my wife, as well as Ian G. Cox, former NODA Chairman of Trustees, and his wife.

As has become customary with such a NODA-receptive society as Bilston Operatic Company, we received a warm welcome and enjoyed drinks and nibbles in a side booth before the show.

This production demands to be larger than life – full of flair, magnificent costumes, and strong vocals – while at the same time addressing issues of homophobia and prejudice. Although we would all like to believe such attitudes have been eradicated, sadly, we are all too aware they still exist today.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Laura Leo. However, as we say in the business, “The show must go on” – and it did, with true professionalism. Following the final curtain of the final performance, Matt Elson (Tick) addressed the audience to speak about Laura. It was an emotional and heartfelt moment, reflecting the company’s love and respect for her.

I fully agree with the comments made by Ann regarding the sheer quality of the performances on stage.

For the final performance, the role of Benji was played by Edward Jones, who gave a touching portrayal, particularly in the father–son scenes. He showed great confidence in the role and clearly enjoyed his moment in the kangaroo costume!

Attending a Bilston Operatic production is always a delight – thank you for the kind invitation. I now look forward to We Will Rock You, running from 29 September to 3 October 2026.

Andy Brown – Regional Councillor NODA West Midlands.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.