Miss Saigon, Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh Review:

***** (5 stars)

“A Triumphant Reinterpretation!”

Thirty-six years after debuting in London’s west end at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and coming on the 50^th anniversary of the fall of Saigon in 1975 critically acclaimed producers Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Michael Harrison have joined forces to bring a new production of the critically acclaimed Miss Saigon to the stages of the UK and my word what a triumphant reinterpretation it is.

Miss Saigon with Book and Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg and additional Lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr and Michael Mahler is a sung through musical retelling of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly. Setting the action across three years from 1975 to 1978 in Saigon at the culmination of the Vietnam War which would see the fall of Saigon. Modern era GI “Chris” a capturing performance imbued with strength and honesty from Jack Kane, meets and falls in love with Saigon Native “Kim”, a remarkable professional debut from Julianne Pundan while visiting a Saigon strip bar run by a manipulative “Engineer” the simply show stealing Seann Miley Moore, who is clinging to his American dream at all costs. Kim and Chris are thrown back together in Bangkok, but time has moved on and Chris comes with a wife “Ellen”, an assured and emotional performance from Emily Langham and Kim has secrets and truths to reveal herself which sets the stage for a story that looks at the fragility of love and how far one woman will go to make a better world for herself and those she loves.

This production of the show is subtitled “The Legend Reborn” and Director Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy and his team have truly delivered on that promise. This is a thrilling and emotionally charged version of the show just waiting to be embraced by a new generation of audiences across the country. Performances from the 22 strong ensemble cast are uniformly excellent and the lead artists are outstanding. Special mention must go to Dom Hartley-Harris in the role of “John” who gives a powerhouse rendition of “Bui Doi” and brings a strong truth to the role. Pundan’s performance as “Kim” is truly remarkable, her voice feels like it belongs to someone far older than her years. Jack Kane’s “Chris” is everything and more and delivered flawlessly. However, the true standout is Seann Riley Moore’s “Engineer” his performance truly redefines the character and he must surely by the consummate “Engineer” of his generation, pulsating physicality, a hint of nastiness and the perfect blend of queerness it’s an outstanding performance from start to finish. The remaining cast bring equal levels of commitment to character and vocal performances, and they deliver Chrissie Cartwright and Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s inspired choreography with great skill and polish.

Production wise this Miss Saigon is nothing less than a true west end production on tour with Andrew D Edwards Set and Costume design giving the show a whole new world to inhabit and its stunning in its detail and yes that magical moment with a helicopter is still very much there. Edwards design is boosted by the most emotional projection design by George Reeve which gives the over all show a rich cinematic feel. Bruno Poet delivers an award-winning lighting design that brings out the show’s darkest moments as well as the Broadway glitter of “The American Dream”. Adam Fisher’s sound design is the cherry on the cake with an inventive surround sound feel that reaches into the soul of the audience. The balance between performers at the outstanding 12 strong pit orchestra under the baton of Musical Director Ben Mark Tuner is faultless and the score has never sounded my lush or intricate as does now.

Miss Saigon: The Legend Reborn delivers on its promise in spectacular style allowing the show to inhabit a new world that grips current fans but also opens the show to a more modern world and reaffirms the musicals’ ability to both move, educate and entertain in equal measure. When the time comes many years from now for Miss Saigon to be revived or reinvented once more it will be hard to beat this production. So, head to the playhouse for the very few tickets that remain as the heat is very much on in Miss Saigon.

Michael Harrison in association with Cameron Mackintosh Presents Miss Saigon, Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh runs until Saturday 1^st November for more information and tickets go to: Miss Saigon Tickets | Edinburgh Playhouse in Edinburgh | ATG Tickets

Miss Saigon UK Tour Continues, and the production will call at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen from Tuesday 3^rd March to Saturday 7^th March 2026 and the King’s Theatre Glasgow from Tuesday 9^th to Saturday 20^th June 2026.