Darlington Operatic Society Presents PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT

With just 4 weeks to opening night a local theatre company is finding that musical theatre can be a bit of a drag. Members of Darlington Operatic Society (DarlingtonOS) are putting the final touched to their latest production Priscilla Queen of the Desert - a show that is quite unlike any other.

Based on the 1994 smash hit movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert follows the journey of two drag queens, Tick (Nick Holmes) and Adam (Luke Oldfield), and a transgender woman, Bernadette (Julian Cound), as they travel across Australia in their bus, named Priscilla. Tick has been asked to perform at a hotel in Alice Springs by his estranged wife, Marion. Taking Adam and Bernadette along with him, the trio drive from Sydney to the remote resort town in the middle of the desert.

Tick tells his companions that the trip is a favour to his ex-wife, but does not reveal that he also has a young son he does not know, but who now wants to meet his father. As they head west, Tick, Adam, and Bernadette learn to accept and support each other, whilst encountering a number of strange and colourful characters along the way. Adam is forced to realize that not everyone is accepting of his flamboyant lifestyle, whilst Bernadette opens up to the possibility of love again following the death of her husband. Upon reaching Alice Springs, Tick finally meets his son, Benji, who accepts his father's drag queen persona. The trio perform at the resort and realize that they have forged a bond that will last forever.

The music for Priscilla is a hit parade of infectious dance songs from the 70s and 80s by Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Donna Summer, The Village People, Kylie Minogue and many others and includes "I Will Survive", "Don't Leave Me This Way", "Hot Stuff", "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", "True Colours" and "I Love The Nightlife."

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a flamboyant, heart-felt, disco-fuelled musical that is guaranteed to get the audience up on their feet.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 18 to Saturday 28 April. Thursday April 26 is a BSL Interpreted performance. There is a 14+ age recommendation on this show.

Tickets are available now from www.darlingtonos.org.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 244659. Tickets for Priscilla are not available through the Hippodrome box office.

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