WHEN two drag queens and a transgender woman embark on a colourful road trip across the Australian Outback, it doesn’t take long for smalltown prejudice to rear its head.

It is dangerous territory for the trio, travelling from Sydney to Alice Springs in a sparkly pink bus called Priscilla, with the aim of putting on a drag show, but each of them has come a long way, and they’re not turning back now.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the lively musical inspired by the much-loved 1994 film, and this revamped production does it proud. With a bewildering array of flamboyant costumes - including a Sydney Opera House mini dress and a cupcake high-kicking to MacArthur Park - it’s a deliciously camp tribute to Australia’s drag scene and a warm-hearted story of inter-generational friendship.

Despite an underwhelming opening number, with a dance ensemble dressed in dreary black, moving to awkward choreography, the show soon got going, and the action raced along to a succession of disco floor-fillers, including Hot Stuff, It’s Raining Men, I Love the Nightlife, Go West and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

It’s a giant glitter ball of a show, and the packed Alhambra audience lapped it up, taking selfies in feather boas before the curtain rose then rising to their feet, whooping with delight, for the finale.

Having seen Jason Donovan (now co-producing the show) play estranged father Tick a couple of times, I was intrigued to see how Joe McFadden would step into the role. He was a delight, with a surprisingly great singing voice (yes, Joe is a Strictly champion, but who knew Heartbeat’s motorcycling bobby could sing like an angel?). Although not quite as comfortable in drag performance as his two co-stars, Joe gave a rounded, touching performance of troubled but likeable Tick and his showtime alter ego, Mitzi Mitosis.

It is Bernadette - world weary, a little jaded, but still a classy, no-nonsense trail-blazer - who often steals the scenes in Priscilla, and Miles Western captured her grace, dignity and quick wit, although I thought the scene where she floors a violent redneck in a backwater bar should have been more of a showstopping ‘moment’. I assume it was down to the direction, but it felt almost like a throwaway line, rather than the spine-tingling, couldn’t-hear-a-pin-drop highlight it was the first time I saw it.

Bernadette’s touching relationship with Bob, beautifully played by Daniel Fletcher, was nicely done though.

Nick Hayes lit up the stage as petulant Adam and his drag persona, Felicia. His Kylie mash-up, from the top of Ayers Rock, was a gem. Another highlight was the opera turn, perched on top of the tour bus in a meringue hooped dress, while the bigots raged in a ‘redneck’ ballet below.

The world has moved on since the first Priscilla road trip, 25 years ago, but the show’s themes of prejudice, tolerance and liberty still strike a chord.

* Due to “unforeseen problems”, yesterday’s matinee performance of Priscilla Queen of the Desert was cancelled. At the time of writing, the show is due to to run at the Alhambra tonight and until Saturday.