Newcastle is about to get fabulous, with Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical rolling into the Civic Theatre for five glittering performances this December.
Following local productions including Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde, Chookas Entertainment is bringing the beloved Australian story to the stage.
Based on the Oscar-winning 1994 film, the musical follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they journey across the Outback in a battered old bus on their way to perform a cabaret show in Alice Springs.
Along the way, the trio find themselves navigating friendship, love, acceptance and the courage to be unapologetically themselves.
The result is a colourful, heartfelt and hilarious celebration packed with plenty of sequins, feathers and larger-than-life characters.
And then there’s the soundtrack. Audiences can expect a jukebox of 80s and 90s dancefloor favourites including Hot Stuff, It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, I Love the Nightlife, True Colours and Finally, with a ten-piece live orchestra bringing the music to life across all five Newcastle performances.
Leading the cast is Jesse Leese in the demanding dual role of Felicia and Adam. A veteran of Chookas productions including Kinky Boots and Ride the Cyclone, Leese brings a comic edge to Adam while exploring the more vulnerable side of a character who uses humour and wit to protect himself.
The production will also feature standout moments including Sempre Libera, Go West, We Belong and a finale medley designed to get audiences on their feet.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical will play five performances at Civic Theatre Newcastle from Thursday, 17 December to Sunday, 20 December 2026. Tickets are available through civictheatrenewcastle.com.au.
