Priscilla Queen of the Desert- Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 7th January 2014

After a successful three year stint on the London’s west end and a transfer to Broadway, Priscilla Queen of the Desert’s next stop on its UK tour began in Cardiff on Tuesday.

Based on the 1994 Australian film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, starring Terrence Stamp and Hugo Weaving, the musical follows two drag queens and a transsexual woman’s journey through the Aussie outback in a bus named ‘Priscilla’ – what’s not to love?

Jason Donovan, who originated ‘Tick’ on the west end, reprises his role in the production and brings warmth and compassion to the part of the drag queen who desperately tries to build a relationship with his young son.  Aside from the camp madness of the show, mostly brought on by drag queen ‘Felicia Jollygoodfellow’, there are some really heart warming and touching moments, clearly showing the musical has a heart. There was not a dry eye in the house when it came to Donovan’s rendition of ‘You were always on my mind’ for his son.

Richard Grieve was pretty convincing as transsexual Bernadette who provided witty and downright hilarious remarks throughout the evening, and when joined by the powerhouse vocals of the three divas, were the true stars of the evening.

The theatre is transformed into a disco for much of the show and features hits such as ‘I will survive’, ‘I say a little prayer’ and ‘Girls just wanna have fun’ so it was impossible to resist singing along to! These hits, equipped with incredible costumes, secure Priscilla as possibly the best feel-good trip to the theatre you are ever likely to experience!

Full to the brim of glitz, glamour and camp fun, Priscilla is the perfect way to kick away the January blues!

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is at Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday 18th January 2014

 Review written by Jordan Nicholls (BMus, Year 2).