Strictly TV star Joe McFadden takes on iconic drag role in Sheffield in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Joe stars in the stage version of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, as one of three Australian drag queens who set off across country in their tour bus, Priscilla, to do a special show in the Outback.

He appears at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield until Saturday, March 7.

The show, based on the popular 1994 film, features dancefloor classics including Hot Stuff, I Will Survive, I Love the Nightlife and Finally.

Joe, the 2017 Strictly Come Dancing champion with dance partner Katya Jones, was already a familiar face for his role as surgeon Raf di Lucca on Holby City.

He plays Tick in the show, who persuades two fellow drag performers to join him on the road. Along the way they make new friends and also suffer incidents of homophobia.

Their final destination is a hotel which is run by Tick’s estranged wife, where he hopes to build a relationship with his young son.

The drama runs alongside lots of funny and feelgood moments, including colourful dance numbers.

This tour started recently and Joe said: “I had some trepidation at the beginning but right from the first few shows we were getting a great reaction from the audiences with laughter and people jumping up on to their feet at the end.”

Australian icon Jason Donovan, who has starred in the show himself, is one of the producers for this tour and Joe said he had been a brilliant support.

“Jason in rehearsals said the show is basically like a rock concert with all these fantastic songs. He played the part for five years that I’m playing so it’s great having his seal of approval and words of encouragement.”

He added: “It’s a funny situation having him there as he’s played my part before. It must be strange for him seeing someone else playing this part but it's been great having him around.”

He’s worked to make the part his own: “You can never really capture anyone else’s performance. I saw it in the West End and there’s a danger seeing someone’s performance that you’re going to do it like that.

“I’m not the same person with the same flaws and qualities. It’s also a different production than the movie – they are quite hardened and bitter in the movie in the way that we are not. They want us to be slightly more vulnerable with more of a connection between the three of us.”

The trio certainly have their feisty side too, though, Joe said: “They’re real warriors, these guys. To put on a dress in Australia at that time was such a brave thing to do.”

Joe said he feels that what makes people warm to the characters – the fact that they are both strong and vulnerable.

Joe said that the touring show also boasts a new design, choreography, a new bus and a new set.

He agreed that doing Strictly may have helped producers to see his potential for musicals. “I did Rent in the West End but I’m not so well known for that sort of thing.

“There’s nothing more theatrical than Strictly with the different characters and themes.

“They see you in a different light than a serious drama surgeon or police sergeant (from Heartbeat).”

The glitterball works its magic again!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Lyceum box office: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Tour website: priscillauktour.com/tour-dates