Norfolk

There are musicals, and then there are Musicals. The big, sweeping, emotionally devastating kind that leave you simultaneously reaching for a tissue and Googling the soundtrack on the drive home. Boublil and Schönberg&#8217;s Miss Saigon firmly belongs in that category.



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Produced by the one and only Cameron Mackintosh, the musical is now touring the UK for the first time in decades, and this revived production at Norwich Theatre Royal (on until Sat 23 May) is every bit as epic as fans will hope.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1061" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Jack-Kane-Chris.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg" alt="Miss Saigon UK Tour" class="wp-image-78985" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Jack-Kane-Chris.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Jack-Kane-Chris.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-800x566.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Jack-Kane-Chris.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-1000x707.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Jack-Kane-Chris.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-768x543.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Set during the final days of the Vietnam War, it follows 17-year-old Kim, forced to work in a Saigon bar run by the slippery but oddly lovable character everyone calls The Engineer, where she falls for American GI Chris before war tears them apart &#8211; with Chris unaware he has fathered a son.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1220" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Company.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg" alt="Miss Saigon UK Tour" class="wp-image-78981" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Company.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Company.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-800x651.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Company.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-1000x813.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Company.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-768x625.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Despite being a long-time musical theatre fan, this was actually my first time seeing Miss Saigon on stage. I knew the soundtrack, of course, but had somehow avoided spoilers about the ending &#8211; which made the final moments land like an emotional freight train. If you don’t know the outcome already, consider this your warning to pack tissues. Lots of tissues. You’ve been warned.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1874" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer2.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg" alt="Miss Saigon UK Tour" class="wp-image-78979" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer2.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer2.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-640x800.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer2.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer2.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-768x959.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Seann-Miley-Moore-The-Engineer2.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-1229x1536.jpg 1229w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Yes, it’s heartbreaking. I cried multiple times. But it’s also far funnier than you might expect. The Engineer pretty much carries the comedy side of the show, providing welcome relief from all the emotional destruction. Played by Seann Miley Moore, who audiences may recognise from The X Factor, he’s charismatic, ruthless and endlessly entertaining, particularly during the brilliantly over-the-top “American Dream” number, which arrives at exactly the moment the audience needs a breather.



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At the centre of it all is Julianne Pundan as Kim, delivering the kind of powerhouse performance the role demands. Her vocals are stunning, but it’s the raw emotion behind them that really lands.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1076" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim-Mikko-Juan-Thuy.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg" alt="Miss Saigon UK Tour" class="wp-image-78983" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim-Mikko-Juan-Thuy.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim-Mikko-Juan-Thuy.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-800x574.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim-Mikko-Juan-Thuy.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-1000x717.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim-Mikko-Juan-Thuy.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-768x551.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Visually, this touring production punches well above its weight too. Neon-lit bars, moving sets and giant video projections recreate the chaos of Saigon brilliantly. I was particularly impressed by the helicopter evacuation scene, where Chris is belting his heart out while literally being airlifted off stage. The live orchestra adds huge cinematic drama throughout &#8211; although fair warning, the drum bomb blasts are loud enough to make you jump out of your skin clutching your interval wine.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1584" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg" alt="Miss Saigon UK Tour" class="wp-image-78982" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Photo-Danny-Kaan.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-758x800.jpg 758w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-947x1000.jpg 947w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-768x811.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/MISS-SAIGON.-Julianne-Pundan-Kim.-Photo-Danny-Kaan-1455x1536.jpg 1455w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Also, a quick shoutout to the tiny actor playing Tam, Kim’s son, who spends much of the evening being belted at from close range by adults singing at full volume. Somebody please get that child some ear defenders!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



At nearly three hours long, it’s undeniably a commitment, but if you love classic musicals in the Les Mis or Evita mould &#8211; big songs, big feelings, genuine spectacle &#8211; it’s absolutely worth it.



Good for: Fans of classic musicals, emotional drama and theatre that goes properly big.



Not for: Anyone wanting a light-hearted night out &#8211; or people who don’t enjoy public crying!



Miss Saigon is running at Norwich Theatre Royal until Sat 23 May, nab a ticket <a href="https://norwichtheatre.org/whats-on/miss-saigon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. 



Reviewer Claire Hool



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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‘Miss Saigon’ UK Tour Review: A heartbreaking, spectacular revival

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