Anton in Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Bursting with sequins and spandex Priscilla Queen of the Desert comes to Hong Kong this autumn, with Island School student, Anton Newcomb playing the role of Benjy.

Anton plays the son of one of the main characters [Tick] in the show. Anton said, “I am the one that makes Tick feel good, he likes my company!”

Anton, aged 10, recently started singing and acting lessons. His teacher gave him some advice, Anton, “My teacher said remember HAIL: Honest, Accepting, Innocent, and Loving – that is what I need to be in the show.”

With, arts center, Kids Gallery Anton has been in a number of other shows: Wizard of Oz, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.

With so many shows under his belt does he still get nervous? “Acting is a way of expressing myself and it helps me to relax. I don’t get nervous, I’m ok on stage.”

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is on at the Academy of Performing Arts so Anton will be playing to his biggest audience yet. “I have practiced my lines and all the songs and I think I am ok with everything.”

The only thing that seemed to phase Anton was the audition, he said, “It was scary and I wasn’t sure I was going to get in. But when the other boys sang the pianist told them to open their mouths more, when I sang the pianist said – that I was an example of how to sing! I felt good about it and I was pleased he liked it.”

Anton can play the ukulele (behind his head even!) and he is learning to play the guitar. In the future he would like to see a West End or Broadway musical and become a professional actor.

He recently performed Vance Joy’s Rip Tide at Island School’s Stars in Their Eyes. See Anton in Priscilla Queen of the Desert until the 22 October 2017.