Theatre

Priscilla Queen of the Desert musical wants trans performers to audition for the upcoming 2021 UK tour

Mar 29 2021
Written by Jonny Yates

The musical adaption of Priscilla Queen of the Desert will tour across the UK in 2021. (Photo by Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Iconic musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert is touring the UK in 2021 and they’re looking for trans performers to join the cast.

The hit show based on the film of the same name is set to start its tour this June, visiting ten theatres across the country.

The production was halted in March 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak, which shut down theatres across the globe.

Since then producers told PinkNews it gave them an “opportunity to rethink our casting process, so this time we are including an open casting call for trans performers.”

They’re looking for performers who can act, dance and sing but no previous experience in the West End or theatre is required.

The producers explained: “Our job in theatre is tell to tell stories in the best way possible and we believe that by having more diversity and inclusivity in our shows we do that.

“I think that the theatre has been trying to lead the way and has made much progress in the last few years but there is always more we can do to reflect the society we live in.

“The last year while our industry has been shutdown has given us an opportunity to reflect on how we do things and there have been many discussions on how we can improve. We are constantly learning and welcome feedback even in the form of criticism.”

The musical follows two drag queens and a trans woman who hop aboard a battered old bus bound for the Outback to put on the show of a lifetime.

As the three friends head west from Sydney aboard their lavender bus, Priscilla, they encounter a number of strange characters and deal with homophobia, while widening comfort zones and finding new horizons on a journey of self-discovery.

This is all sound tracked to iconic gay anthems including “I Will Survive”, “Go West”, “It’s Raining Men”, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Finally” to name a few.

It will star Joe McFadden as Tick/Mitzi alongside West End regulars Miles Western as Bernadette Bassenger and Nick Hayes as Adam/Felicia in the lead roles.

The musical is based on the 1994 comedy of the same name which became a surprise hit upon its release and helped introduce LGBT+ themes to a mainstream audience.

It received positive reviews from critics who noted its positive portrayal of LGBT+ people and it went on to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design.

The live tour will kick off in Cheltenham this June and is due to visit eight more venues before finishing up in Woking in October.

You can find out the full tour dates below, while tickets are available from ATGTickets.com for Birmingham, Bristol and Woking dates or priscillauktour.com for the others.

Meanwhile potential applicants can get in touch with [email protected] for more information on auditioning, with the call taking place on 1 April.