Stephan Elliot

Stephan Elliott (born 27 August 1964) is an Australian film director and screenwriter whose creative vision has left an indelible mark on both cinema and musical theatre. Elliott began his career as an assistant director working in the Australian film industry in the 1980s, starting from humble beginnings that would eventually lead him to international acclaim. His journey into filmmaking was unconventional; he spent his teenage years creating hundreds of wedding videos before being selected as one of just twelve students from 2000 applicants to attend the prestigious Sydney Tech film school.

Elliott's breakthrough came with his best-known film internationally, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994). This groundbreaking road comedy about two drag queens and a transgender woman traveling across the Australian Outback became a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for its bold portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and its vibrant, flamboyant aesthetic. The film's success was particularly remarkable given that Elliott's financiers went into liquidation just as production was beginning, demonstrating his determination and resourcefulness as a filmmaker.

Following the success of the original film, Elliott expanded his creative reach by adapting his cinematic work for the stage. The musical version of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a jukebox musical with book by Australian film director-writer Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, using well-known pop songs as its score. Elliott wrote the script for the stage play of Priscilla, which premiered in 2007 at Sydney's Lyric Theatre in Star City. This theatrical adaptation brought the beloved characters and story to a new medium, allowing audiences worldwide to experience the heartwarming and fabulously entertaining journey of Tick, Bernadette, and Adam through live performance.

Throughout his career, Elliott has continued to work in both film and theatre, establishing himself as a versatile storyteller who isn't afraid to tackle challenging subjects or push creative boundaries. Elliott came out as gay during his presentation at the inaugural AACTA Awards in Sydney on 31 January 2012, further cementing his role as an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment. His work on Priscilla, both as a film and musical, has become a cornerstone of queer cinema and theatre, inspiring countless artists and entertaining audiences with its message of acceptance, friendship, and the courage to be authentically oneself.