Euan Doidge stars in Priscilla Queen of the Desert after growing up in SA’s South-East
AS he makes his nightly entrance on stage, with heels and hair as high as the heavens and Kylie Minogue’s Better The Devil You Know blaring, Euan Doidge knows it’s a long way from his formative years in South Australia’s South-East.
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AS he makes his nightly entrance on stage, with heels and hair as high as the heavens and Kylie Minogue’s Better The Devil You Know blaring, Euan Doidge knows it’s a long way from his formative years in South Australia’s South-East.
The 24-year old, who grew up in Millicent and did much of his training in Mt Gambier, is now one of the lead stars of the hit musical version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, set to play Festival Theatre this August as part of its 10th anniversary tour.
While the other boys in school were playing sports, Doidge had dreams of life in the spotlight. “It was difficult growing up in a country town and in love with the arts,” he says. “I did play basketball and had a good group of guy friends who were my school mates. When I started dancing, things changed. It was awful at the time, I was still discovering who I am and it made school harder for me. School wasn’t a great time ... but I had my singing and dancing to keep me going. I’d travel to Mt Gambier four or five times a week to practise and I just loved it. It was tough, but it made me really appreciate what I do now.’’
Doidge left Millicent at 17 to study musical theatre in Melbourne. His big break, in A Chorus Line, earned the teen a Helpmann Award nomination.
“Being from the country means not having a lot of access to teachers or workshops like people have in Adelaide or Melbourne,” he said.
“When I moved to Melbourne it really made me make the most of all the opportunities because I was used to them being so rare.’’
Doidge’s mighty CV includes Les Miserables, Grease and Kinky Boots, ahead of scoring the role of drag queen Felicia in Priscilla. The lavish production, boasting 500 costumes, has been a smash hit on Broadway and the West End.
Priscilla the musical is at festival Theatre from August 19. Tickets on sale 9am tomorrow at bass.net.au
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