It has been announced that Adèle Anderson, celebrated for her work with the satirical cabaret trio Fascinating Aïda, will take on the role of Bernadette in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
With a career spanning over four decades, Adèle has become a beloved figure in British cabaret. Since joining Fascinating Aïda in 1984, she has co-written and performed in numerous acclaimed productions, earning the group three Olivier Award nominations, a Perrier Award, and the New York Drama Desk Award.
Her recent theatre credits include The School For Scandal (Midsummer Scene Festival, Dubrovnik), Nul Points (Union Theatre), She Loves Me (Sheffield Crucible), Closer To Heaven (Above The Stag), Doctor Dolittle (UK Tour), and Follies (Landor Theatre). She has also performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and directed pantomimes at The Theatre, Chipping Norton.
Adèle Anderson said:
“I am delighted to have been asked to join such an illustrious team to bring this joyous show to theatres around the UK and Ireland. Bernadette is a warm, witty, caring, and compassionate character, whom audiences will love. In the current climate, it is vital that people see this character as a human being who is secure in herself, who loves, laughs, and cries, and, most importantly, earns respect from those she encounters as she motors through Australia.”
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, based on the Oscar-winning 1994 film, opens at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on 19 February 2026 and will tour through to July 2026, with international dates to follow.
Directed by Olivier Award-nominated Ian Talbot OBE and choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Matt Cole, the production features set and lighting design by Andrew Exeter.
The musical follows three friends on a road trip across Australia in a battered bus named Priscilla, as they chase their dream of performing the show of a lifetime.
Packed with disco classics and dazzling costumes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a celebration of identity, diversity, and self-acceptance. The show explores themes of friendship, resilience, and the power of being true to oneself.
The tour will visit major venues including the King’s Theatre Glasgow, Liverpool Empire, Mayflower Theatre Southampton, Birmingham Hippodrome, and many more.
Further casting is yet to be announced. The production is presented by Mark Goucher, Matthew Gale, and Gavin Kalin.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
