Home and Away’s Ray Meagher joins the cast of Priscilla
Home And Away’s Ray Meagher, will reprise his role as outback mechanic “Bob” in the 10th anniversary celebration tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The Australian actor, who recently notched up 30 years as Home and Away’s Alf Stewart, will swap Summer Bay for the Queensland stage, joining the cast of Priscilla for the musical’s Brisbane run at Lyric Theatre, QPAC beginning September 26.
Ray takes over from Robert Grubb who will leave the show after the Adelaide season after more than eight months on the road.
Ray was born on a cattle and sheep property in Outback Queensland and has not only forged a career in TV, film and stage but is also an experienced stockman, horseman and former first-class rugby player.
He made his theatre debut at Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre in 1972 and has performed in countless productions both here and abroad, including 16 pantomimes in the UK. His film credits include Breaker Morant, Newsfront and My Brilliant Career. He auditioned for the pilot of Home and Away thinking it might be a few months’ work – three decades later he is the longest serving actor in an Australian drama series.
Having played “Bob” in the original 2007 Sydney production of Priscilla, the West End and New Zealand, Ray Meagher said: “The pink bus took me from Sydney to London to Auckland and this year to Brisbane. I never in my wildest dreams thought a bloke from the Queensland bush who can't sing or dance would be allowed anywhere near a musical! Thank you Priscilla.”
Tony Sheldon is to reprise the role of “Bernadette”. He has frocked up more than 1800 times across the globe as the desert queen, earning Tony and Olivier nominations for the role. Joining him on the bus is David Harris as “Tick” and Kinky Boots and Les Misérables alumni Euan Doidge as “Felicia”.
Based on the Oscar-winning Australian film, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the story of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus in Sydney bound for Alice Springs to put on the show of a lifetime..
The quintessentially Aussie story about mateship, self-discovery and acceptance was translated from screen to stage by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, directed by Simon Phillips, with the film’s costume designers Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner onboard, alongside stage designer Brian Thomson and co-choreographers Andrew Hallsworth and Ross Coleman.
Brisbane performances from 26 September in the Lyric Theatre, QPAC,
Tickets $49.90 - $165.90. Bookings: qpac.com.au or 136 246
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