Cast for Priscilla The Party!

Sara Louise, Dakota Starr and Gracie Lai in rehearsal for Priscilla The Party! Picture: Marc Brenner

The full cast has been confirmed for Priscilla The Party! – a new immersive production inspired by the hit show Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical.

Runner-up in the global drag singing competition Queen of the Universe and the creator of the role of Miss Understanding in Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, Australian Trevor Ashley will return to the West End for the first time since his debut in 2013 in Liza (on an E) to play Gaye Cliché.

He will be joined by Owain Williams (The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Les Misérables, 25th anniversary tour) as Tick/Mitzi, Dakota Starr (Fisherman’s Friends, UK tour, The Girls, West End/Leeds Grand Theatre/The Lowry) as Bernadette and Reece Kerridge (Elf The Musical Arena Spectacular, UK tour, The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre) as Adam/Felicia, with Grace Galloway, Gracie Lai and Sara Louise as the Divas, Steven Serlin as Bob the Mechanic and Joni Ayton-Kent as Alternate Bernadette.

The cast will also include John McGlone, Matthew Facchino, Isidro Ridout, Brandon Gale, William Elijah-Lewis, Samuel Stokes, Dan Holland, Kimberly Blake, Lucy Park, Maria Myatt and Teagan Denham.

Directed by the musical’s original director Simon Phillips, Priscilla The Party! will sashay into HERE @ Outernet, part of the new £1 billion Outernet development in London’s Soho from 3 March 2023 with previews ahead of an official opening on 25 March.

Announcing the latest incarnation of the colourful tale of love, friendship and full-on glamour which began with the cult 1994 film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Phillips said: “We’ve been telling theatregoers this story in over 30 countries now, for nearly two decades and, no matter where we have played around the world, multi-generational, diverse audiences – actually, anyone intent on having a good time – have felt more than welcome at a Priscilla show.

“Given the immense mainstream visibility and recognition drag is enjoying, there has surely never been a better time to celebrate this heartfelt tale of love, friendship and acceptance and this spectacular, interactive production will embrace its audience, immersing them in an experience they will never forget.

“Presented at the exciting HERE @ Outernet venue in Denmark Street in the heart of Soho, this ultimate celebration of Priscilla’s coming of age will bring everyone together with simply the best in feel-good entertainment!”

Commenting on the enduring popularity of Priscilla, trans model and activist Munroe Bergdorf added: “Priscilla is a timeless classic: for so many queer people it was the first time we saw queer people in movies, that we saw drag queens in movies, that I saw a trans woman on screen… I think it’s really important we move with the times and provide new ways of telling stories that have impacted and empowered us all, so I’m very very excited and looking forward to seeing [Priscilla The Party!]… it’s such a ground-breaking story, especially in terms of everything going on with the trans community right now; this is what we need, we need stories that lead with joy, and to show that the trans experience isn’t always about tragedy.”

The spectacular interactive production will be staged by the creative team behind Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical – director Phillips with set and video design by Brian Thomson and Justin Nardella, costume design by Tim Chappell and Lizzy Gardiner, choreography by Andrew Hallsworth, musical arrangements, direction, supervision and orchestrations by Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy, music direction by Steve Geere, lighting design by Per Hording, sound design by Ben Harrison and general management by RGM Productions.

Guests will be invited to choose between an exclusive premium dining experience, featuring a sumptuous three-course meal, or opt to sit or stand on the dance floor. Those in seats around or on the dance floor, will be offered a diverse array of bar snacks and drinks from the expansive bar area.

Taking inspiration from a number of current hit London-based interactive and immersive productions, Priscilla The Party! will treat its audience to an extravagant display of eye-popping costumes, an exhilarating soundtrack designed to encourage everyone to sing along and a show which will unfold around them.

Featuring a book by the original film’s writer and director Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical debuted in Sydney in 2006 before arriving in London in 2009 with Jason Donovan starring alongside Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton. The musical hit Broadway in 2011 with Sheldon reprising his performance as Bernadette alongside Jeremy Stanford and Will Swenson.

Angela Thomas