Cast Announced for Gold Coast Season of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert

Cast to be headed by transgender actor, Vonni

Yvonne "Vonni" Britain, portraying Bernadette in the Gold Coast production of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. Image supplied by Matt Ward Entertainment / Captured by Kenn Santos

One of my favourite jukebox musicals is heading to the Gold Coast from July 2022, with Matt Ward Entertainment (most recently behind the Gold Coast production of Mamma Mia! The Musical) to host a multi-week season of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert at The Star, Gold Coast. The question is, especially in times where it is now important to support and embrace members of the LGBTQI+ community… who will be taking on the show’s lead and ensemble roles, while also delivering it tastefully.

It was recently confirmed that Adelaide’s Yvonne Britain, known by her performer stage name Vonni, will play Priscilla’s lead character Bernadette Bassinger. While cisgender male actors have traditionally adopted the role, Vonni is a transgender actor, pitched by Matt Ward Entertainment as a “world-first”.

Vonni will join Australia’s most famed transgender enteratiner Carlotta (AM) – from Sydney’s Les Girls troupe fame – who is also in the cast in a ‘special cameo role’, as well as original Fijian-born Australian Idol finalist and Platinum recording artist Paulini Curuenavuli as one of the diva Trio. Others joining the cast include Steven Tandy as Bob, Caitlin Quinn and Tiffany O’Connor as the other two divas, Keane Fletcher as Anthony ‘Tick’ Belrose and Jarrod Moore as Felicia.

The Gold Coast season of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert will be held at The Star, Gold Coast from Saturday 16 July 2022 when the first preview will take place, until Sunday 7 August 2022. Tickets are available via Ticketek, and can be purchased HERE.

We chose Vonni, not because she was transgender but because she was the best performer for the role. It’s an honour to share the story of Bernadette and it’s important to our team to make casting choices that elevate the humanity of her story.

This is a movement about visibility that should be encouraged. We encourage other productions to embrace transgender talent – to give them auditions – and give them their story.

Carlotta is an icon, with a wealth of knowledge to share with our cast and crew. No one has approached her to be in a musical prior and I am so proud to be her first. We’re so grateful she said yes.

Matt Ward – Director of Matt Ward Entertainment

They bought French champagne. So I’m thinking wow, I think I’ve got it. I think I’ve got it. But I didn’t dare think – I didn’t want to count my chickens. And then Matt Ward just said, well, Yvonne I’d like to thank you for coming from Adelaide and you’ve got the part and I was ugly crying. So it’s very good.

I was part of Les Girls and Bernadette’s character is a retired Les Girls performer. I’ve toured around Australia, I’ve toured in a bus. I’ve worked at Lasseters Alice Springs, this casino is where they end up. I’ve climbed Ayres Rock. I’ve lived the life of the person that I’m portraying.

I am absolutely honored and thrilled – absolutely beside myself to say that I will be playing Bernadette. Bernadette Bassanger’s character was based on Carlotta. Carlotta is a very good friend of mine, we actually lived together for quite a few years in the 80s. I worked with her in the King’s Cross Les Girls. We’re going to be working with each other again – this time on Priscilla. The scenes we share are going to be tremendous fun

Vonni – Priscilla: Queen of the Desert Gold Coast’s Bernadette
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