Priscilla - Queen of the Desert - Salzburg State Theatre

In German with English Song Lyrics
Book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott
Based on the Latent Image / Specific Films Motion Picture
Premiere: December 6, 2025 / Landestheater

Dancefloor songs, a touching story, and a road movie that takes us from the city to the countryside: these are the basic ingredients for this musical. Based on the 1994 film of the same name, the stage adaptation is a feel-good package that seamlessly follows the surprising success of the film. Starting from Australia, the film quickly conquered international cinemas, just as the musical later took over international stages.

The jukebox musical tells the story of two drag queens, Mitzi (Tick) and Felicia (Adam), along with the transgender woman Bernadette, who travel through the Australian Outback on the bus "Priscilla" to put on a show in Alice Springs. The journey is initiated by Tick, who wants to meet his son from a previous heterosexual relationship. For all three, the trip also becomes a journey of self-discovery and a struggle for social and personal acceptance.

Identity, tolerance, and self-confidence are addressed with humor and heart, and the well-known pop songs with catchy melodies (e.g., "I Will Survive," "What’s Love Got to Do with It?" and "It’s Raining Men") create an exhilarating atmosphere. A colorful musical as a plea for respect for the individuality of every person.

Written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, the musical "Priscilla – Queen of the Desert" premiered in Sydney in 2006. The selection of music was central to the stage adaptation: 25 songs were used, mostly from the pop music of the 1970s and 1980s. Elliott had also directed the film of the same name in 1994. After its great success in Australia, the musical moved to London in 2009 and to Broadway in 2011.

With "Priscilla – Queen of the Desert," Ramesh Nair makes his directorial debut at the Salzburg Landestheater. Recently seen as the lead in "Singin' in the Rain," he is now creating the next cult-status musical together with Michael Lindner (set design) and Adam Nee (costumes). The band, led by Wolfgang Götz and Manuel Lauerer, accompanies the colorful evening with well-known hits.

The introduction to the work takes place 45 and 30 minutes before the start of the performance.