Strictly favourite Kevin Clifton on calling Liverpool home and why he’s a natural in high heels ahead of his Empire Priscilla stage appearance 

Even for a pro, the idea of dancing on stage in high heels could feel like quite a challenge.

But Strictly favourite Kevin Clifton has discovered he’s a natural!

Kevin is currently stepping into the role of Tick/Mitzi in a new production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical which comes to the Empire in March.

And along with a whole array of fabulous make-up looks and extravagant costumes, he’ll be putting his Glitterball-winning dance skills to the test.

He said:

“I was having to get used to being in heels, but then another drag queen gave me some advice that made it so much easier,”

“They told me to step onto it and sit into the hip, so I was walking around going ‘step, and sit into the hip’ and I thought, hang on, I know this. This is the rumba, I know how to do this, this is what I’ve been training for all my life.

“So now whenever I put the heels on, I think about doing the rumba and it sort of falls into place.

“It is tough on your feet though, so when women take their shoes off at the end of the night and go ‘ooh that’s better’, I’ve got much more sympathy with that now!”

For Kevin, joining one of the ultimate feelgood musicals as it celebrates its 30^th anniversary has been a joy.

“I saw the show before I saw the film, years ago when I was on tour in Australia,” he explains. “We were on a day off and Priscilla was playing near us so a few of us went to see it and we had a brilliant time. We came out of the theatre buzzing so that was my introduction to it.

“When the idea of me auditioning for this role came up, I thought it was perfect for a few reasons. One, because I think it’s a great show, and two I think it’s good that we’re having this show out there at the moment. 

“I just feel like conversations around sexuality and identity since the film first came out seemed to have headed in a really positive direction and then in the last couple of years things have been getting more and more divisive again. It’s almost as though we’re taking a step back so I think it feels very relevant today.

“Also as an actor I like taking on roles that people might not expect me to do or they’re a big departure from who I am in real life, so I thought it sounded great.”

The production opens in Manchester on February 19, before heading to Glasgow and then Liverpool for a week from March 9.

Having moved to live in Liverpool with partner Stacey Dooley and their daughter Minnie, being able to be so close to them has been an added bonus.

“Liverpool Empire is my home theatre now so it’s brilliant,” he says. “I’m either on stage or I’ve got a three-year-old so I’m putting her to bed and I don’t want to miss out on evenings with her.”

Audiences have been swept along on the disco euphoria of Priscilla ever since the film picked up an Oscar back in 1995 and Kevin says they’re definitely appreciating it right now.

“Post-war, all those Hollywood musicals came out and everyone had a craving for them because they were so sick of what was going on in the real world and I think there’s a similar feeling at the moment. 

“If I’m watching something I don’t want too dark or upsetting or hard-hitting, what I want is something really entertaining and uplifting and this show, which is a massive spectacle with an amazing disco soundtrack, definitely delivers in that.”

As he prepares for his first opening night, 43-year-old Kevin says he’s braced for a whirlwind backstage as well as on it.

“There’s going to be lots of outfit changes and lots of different make-up variations.

“I think in between scenes is going to be a bit like an F1 pit crew … dive in, make-up off, make-up on, wig off, wig on. Instead of tyres they’ll be there with lip gloss and it’ll be bang, bang, bang, on you go!”

Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is at Liverpool Empire from March 9-14. 

Book tickets to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical here.

Find more theatre shows across Liverpool on our calendar.

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