Review | Priscilla Queen Of The Desert | Manchester Palace Theatre | 23 February 2026
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Having run in the West End for several years, in more recent years Priscilla Queen of the Desert has found a home touring the UK in various incarnations. This latest non-replica production may forgo the iconic original set and costumes, but what it delivers instead is the very thing that has kept the show so beloved for so long, warmth, wit and a huge amount of heart.
Based on the 1994 cult classic film, we meet two drag queens and trans woman who road trip across the Australian to perform in a resort. As the trio travel onwards, the laughs come thick and fast, but so too do moments of reflection as we learn more about who these characters are underneath the makeup. Each of the central characters is given their own story arc, and the show doesn’t shy away from tackling homophobia, transphobia and prejudice that exists both inside and out of the queer community. These issues are handled with sensitivity, without the audience feeling preached to.
Kevin Clifton is superb and steels the show as Tick. His more tender scenes with Harper Etienne as Benjy bring real heart to a show that could have easily been simply camp for camp’s sake. In contrast, the undeniable chemistry with the leading trio results in some hilarious one liners that has the audience in hysterics.
Where the show doesn’t quite hit the mark is with some of the production values. A show like this deserves spectacle and flamboyance, but the staging felt a little lacking at times, with clunky set changes and having to manually manoeuvre the bus on and off stage. Whilst some of the costuming is undeniably fabulous, others don’t have the same sparkle.
Thankfully, the music more than compensates for the shortcomings. An unapologetic collection of camp disco classics, the score is cleverly woven into the story in a way many jukebox musicals could learn from. The addition of the three Diva characters, belting out numbers for the queens to lip-sync to, was a lovely nod to the art of drag itself. With lively choreography from Matt Cole, the entire ensemble performs with infectious energy, ensuring the show never loses momentum. It is impossible not to smile from ear to ear watching this show.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert gives audiences exactly what they came for, a fabulous night out of pure escapism. It plays at Manchester Palace Theatre until Saturday 28 February 2026.
Note: My ticket was gifted in exchange for a review. This review is based on my honest opinion alone and is without influence.
