A TONIC which will make you forget your troubles and smile - Priscilla Queen of the Desert star Duncan James says the show is the perfect antidote to modern life.

“Everyone is on such a high, it is two hours of pure entertainment,” said Blue singer Duncan, who is currently playing Tick in the UK tour. “Lots of people have a lot of problems in their lives but with Priscilla you can leave all those troubles behind.

“It is such a good night out, it really is a tonic, a good tonic, and people come away happy.”

Thirty-eight-year-old Duncan, best known as one quarter of pop band Blue, is no stranger to musical theatre having performed since at school in Dorset. After the now reformed Blue split in the 2000s he landed the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago and played opposite Sheridan Smith in the West End production of Legally Blonde but, he says, Priscilla is up there as one of the best.

“It is the most amazing show, I love it,” he told the Gazette. “I think this is my favourite to date just because of the sheer fun of getting dressed up in the most ridiculous outfits every night and the electric feel in the audience.

“Everyone is up dancing and whopping and there is every emotion of joy and happiness.”

Priscilla, which comes to Bristol next month, is based on the 1994 film starring Guy Pearce. Drag Queens Tick (James), Bernadette (Simon Green) and Felicia (Adam Bailey) travel across Australia on board their beloved bus Priscilla to perform at Alice Springs as a favour to Tick’s wife, who he separated from after coming out as gay. Along the way they are at the forefront of a comedy of errors encountering a number of strange characters, as well as incidents of homophobia while searching for love and friendship.

“It is so cleverly written, in fact it is genius,” said Duncan, who said he can relate to his character.

“Tick used to be straight and had a wife, he got her pregnant and had a son. He didn’t really know his sexuality and couldn’t face up to things to become a father.

“He moves to Sydney and is probably really unhappy then one day his ex calls him up and wants him to meet his son for the first time. He realises his son accepts him for who he is.

“It is a beautiful, lovely story and is quite emotional at the end. I get to play a lovely little scene talking to my son for the first time and Tick says you do know what I am? His son has the wonderful line 'you are the best in the business'.

“It is full of emotion and love for who you are.”

Alongside some heartfelt moments, Priscilla is by and large one big fabulous party. Featuring over 500 costumes, outrageous headdresses, prosthetic masks and towering platforms, the score reads like a hen night on tour with dancefloor hits including Finally, Go West, Hot Stuff and Girls Just Want to Have Fun.

For Duncan, I Will Survive is the hot favourite.

“It is the close to Act One and I am dressed in these huge foam shoes with the biggest flares you have ever seen,” he said. “It is ridiculous and I have to dance with a massive head piece which weighs a tonne but it is such fun.

“It is wonderful to be in a show with a cast which is actually really lovely, everybody gets on really well and on stage I think that shows.”

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Musical comes to the Bristol Hippodrome from Monday, May 30 to Saturday, June 11.