Priscilla The Musical.. Fierce, Fabulous and Newcastle-Bound!
- Di von Essen
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Newcastle is about to be a lot more fabulous. This December, Chookas Entertainment, the local powerhouse behind sold-out hits like Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde and Chicago the Musical, is bringing Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical to the Civic Theatre for five shows only, from 17 to 20 December.
Adapted from the Oscar-winning 1994 Australian film, Priscilla follows three friends - two drag queens and a transgender woman - as they journey across the Outback in a battered old bus to perform a cabaret show in Alice Springs. It's a raucous comedy and a genuinely moving story about friendship, love, acceptance and the courage to be unapologetically yourself.
The soundtrack is stacked with 80s and 90s disco anthems, including Hot Stuff, It's Raining Men, I Will Survive, and I Love the Nightlife. For Musical Director Luke Baker, that soundtrack is the engine of the whole show.
“It's all about the energy,” he says. “The balance between the jukebox musical style and the technical precision of a theatrical performance is what truly captivates the audience.”
A ten-piece live orchestra will bring the score to life across all five performances of Priscilla The Musical in Newcastle, adding, he says, “an extra burst of energy to both the performers and the audience.”
Baker is also mindful of the show's deeper themes. “It's a product of its time, and many elements need to be carefully presented to the audience,” says Baker, who is himself a member of the LGBTQI community, alongside many cast members and allies.
He's determined to bring integrity and sensitivity to the work, with inclusivity, respect and equality front of mind. Among his favourite numbers: the opening blast of It's Raining Men, Go West, We Belong, and a finale medley that gets the whole audience on its feet.
Jesse Leese leads the cast in the demanding dual role of Felicia/Adam, one of three friends at the heart of the story.
“To Adam, life is all about having fun,” Leese explains. “He doesn't take life, or himself, too seriously... he hides behind his quick wit and omnipresent irony.” Leaving behind a bubble of comfortable, privileged city life is what cracks that armour open.
“His emotional world is not contained within the lines of the script, so I'm enjoying finding new layers to his comedic moments, and moments where he allows himself to be a bit more genuine.”
The role is as physically demanding as it is emotionally rich. Leese, a veteran of Chookas productions including Kinky Boots and Ride the Cyclone, says he's finally confident dancing in heels. His bigger challenge is a nod to the show's roots in drag performance: lip-syncing “Sempre Libera”, the Italian operatic piece from the iconic scene atop the bus.
“It is very important to me that I get it right. I'm a perfectionist. My next challenge after that will be trying not to fall off the top of the bus while doing it!”
Bringing it all together is a creative team led by producer Jody Miller and director Maddie Watts, with Tahnae Luke as assistant director, choreographer Emily Delchau and assistant choreographer Caitlin Maher, and lighting and sound design by JH Productions.
“It takes a team of people who are passionate about live performance to make it happen,” says Baker, a long-time Chookas collaborator.
“The love and care we put into our art are evident in our team. I want audiences to leave knowing how much we love theatre, and that they'll tell their friends to come back and experience a Chookas Show!”
For Leese, the show's message goes well beyond the glitter. “It's about finding a way to love being alive,” he says. “A way to accept yourself and others radically, even when the world seems to turn against you.” He hopes Newcastle audiences leave “feeling connected - as they all belong to this crazy little thing called proudly being themselves.”
A word of warning for anyone planning a family outing: this is not a G-rated night out. The production carries adult language and themes, along with confetti cannons, smoke and haze, and is recommended for ages 13 and up. Running time is approximately two hours and thirty-five minutes, including interval.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical plays five performances at the Civic Theatre Newcastle from its evening opener on Thursday 17 December until the matinee performance on Sunday 20 December at 1pm. Tickets start from $69 and are on sale now through the Civic Theatre Newcastle box office, online, or by phone on 02 4929 1977.
Grab your heels, your feather boa, and your friends: the bus is leaving in December, and Newcastle is invited along for the ride!
Source: intouch Magazine, Issue #122, Spring 2026, p. 29.
