Priscilla Queen Of The Desert**** Edinburgh Playhouse: feel-good show with a killer soundtrack
When it comes to soundtracks, Priscilla has the pick of the dance floor.
Classic songs with instantly recognisable hooks and choruses that everyone knows word perfect - little wonder this show continues to delight audiences.
Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert has parked its rather broken down bus on the stage of the Playhouse before, and this 2026 return was just as enjoyable.
It brings the 1994 cult movie to life with a soundtrack that starts a good half hour before the lights go down, with a selection of magnificent tunes coming out of the PA. I’d have been tempted to gradually turn the volume up to create that extra buzz among the audience …
The musical stays faithful to the movie as it follows two drag queens and a trans woman on a journey across Australia in a clapped-out old bus to fulfil a promise to perform in a casino run by a former wife.
Former Strictly star, Kevin Clifton, plays Tick - the drag queen with the spouse no-one knew about, never mind the son he’d never met - and he joined on the bus by Adèle Anderson from Fascinating Aida as Bernadette, and the returning Nick Hayes who steals a more than a few scenes as Felicia/Adam.
Their lines, and verbal spats, are sharp as they happily pick at old rivalries while also becoming a formidable force when they come under attack from less than welcoming locals.
The addition of three divas to deliver some powerhouse vocals as the drag queens lip sync was a great move - whether centre stage or in the background, they had real presence throughout this show.
There was also a fine cameo from Peter Duncan - yup, the former Blue Peter man himself -as Bob, the down to earth mechanic who becomes part of the entourage as it heads to its destination.
This Priscilla starts with a giant glitter ball centre stage and ends with a glorious celebration of life, love and disco - a feel good show with characters you care about thanks to their warmth and a desire to simply live their lives.
The wrap around screen could have been used to better effect on a set where the cast did all the scene shifting, turning the bus into a bar and back again, but, a minor quibble when you see how this show builds quite wonderfully to its feel-good finale.