Prada’s Priscillas: A glittering spectacular

When Prada Clutch started her career in drag, performance opportunities were limited. The answer was simple: she created her own show.

Prada Clutch outside the Sydney Opera House ahead of her Sydney shows. Pictures: John Appleyard

When Prada Clutch started her career in drag, performance opportunities were limited, so she created her own show – Prada’s Priscillas: An All-Male Revue.

The show takes audiences on a journey of Australian drag history, from its beginnings with the Les Girls of Kings Cross in the 1960s to Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the 1990s and a tribute to the musical icons of today.

Prada is the star of the show and is joined by six other drag queens in a 90-minute glittering musical spectacular.

Prada grew up in Bossley Park and after school studied musical theatre, where she first discovered drag.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical had finished its Sydney run and Prada knew the stage was where she wanted to be.

Prada will headline the show when it comes to Penrith and Sutherland next month.

But when she graduated from university, she realised theatre options were somewhat limited in Australia.

“And that’s where I decided, ‘well, if you want a show, you have to write a show’,” she said.

So Prada’s Priscillas was born, a dazzling display of costumes, headpieces, and feathers.

“It’s basically a journey from where drag began to where drag is now, to where it’s going,” Prada said.

Prada enlisted the help of Monique Kelly, one of the original Les Girls, who took on the role of creative director and made many of the elaborate costumes seen on stage.

Prada has 10 costumes, including a Cher outfit that took Kelly three months to hand bead.

“There’s a few costumes,” Prada laughed.

She added: “What gives you a lot of satisfaction is everyone on the show has worked on the show, and we’ve made all the costumes.”

Prada’s Priscillas started two years ago and has travelled up and down the east coast, from Dubbo in NSW to Logan in Queensland.

Shows will be held at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre on October 5, and the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith on October 6.

Prada said she loved seeing audience’s reactions to the show.

“That’s the main reason I love doing drag, because it puts a smile on people’s faces,” she said.