It’s not often that a musical leaves you so completely speechless that you sit in silence long after the final note, but Miss Saigon, performed at Manchester’s Palace Theatre, does just that. On its 2025 UK tour, this production captures not only the spectacle of musical theatre at its finest but also the raw, unrelenting humanity that lies beneath its story.
I studied the Vietnam War in depth during my BA in History and American Studies, and even dedicated my dissertation to the literary perspectives of the conflict after I travelled to the beautiful country myself to visit the historic sites I had learnt so much about. Therefore, as you can imagine, I approached Miss Saigon with both excitement and caution.
It’s a story so often romanticised, yet so deeply rooted in pain. What I witnessed on stage, however, was an artistic triumph that handled this history with so much compassion and sincerity that it blew me away.
The true power of great theatre
From the striking opening scene of ‘Dreamland’ right through to the heart-aching finale, Miss Saigon immerses you in a world torn between survival and hope. The ensemble delivers this intensity in every moment, not just through movement and choreography but through their collective voice. When the cast sings together, it creates a sound so rich and layered that it feels almost spiritual.
In ‘Kim’s Nightmare: The Fall of Saigon’, the chaos, fear and distress dominate the entire stage, making it almost unbearable to watch yet impossible to look away. Then there are moments like ‘This Is the Hour’, when the voices of the ensemble echo through the theatre and create a truly out-of-body experience. There are also sombre moments like ‘Bui Doi’, where the soldiers’ harmonies capture the weight of guilt and loss. These ensemble moments amplify the emotion, reminding you of the true power of great theatre, when voices, movement and storytelling come together to create something that feels bigger than life itself.
Seann Miley Moore as The Engineer
Seann Miley Moore is a revelation as The Engineer, and I know I wasn’t the only person in that theatre who felt this role was made for them. They bring The Engineer to life with an energy so electric it borders on fantastical. There’s a moment where they weave between guards, slipping in and out of view, that feels like something straight out of a Disney film or storybook come to life.
I’ve seen a lot of theatre over the past few years, but I’ve never witnessed anything quite as mesmerising as Moore’s performance of ‘The American Dream’. Their stage presence feels less like acting and more like watching someone command their kingdom. It’s electric, a true spectacle, and one that deserves every ounce of praise for being so unique, unapologetic, and darkly comedic.
With the help of playful choreography, clever use of props, and inspired direction, Moore’s portrayal of The Engineer is so animated it’s almost cartoon-like, but in the best possible way. They deliver that rare kind of theatrical magic that feels bigger than life – where performance, design, and sheer personality collide to create something that sparkles beyond reality.
Julianne Pundan as Kim
Then there’s Julianne Pundan as Kim, whose performance is nothing short of extraordinary. Her voice carries both fragility and fire, and her acting shows no limits. You can feel the shift as she moves from lovestruck, hopeful innocence to fierce, maternal determination throughout the show. There’s a key moment when she stops being a girl waiting for rescue and becomes the heartbeat of the story – a mother who would burn down the world for her child. Her portrayal of this transformation is truly spellbinding.
This was Pundan’s professional debut, but you wouldn’t believe it. Her voice pierces straight through to the heart, and you watch her perform these gut-wrenching scenes with tears in your eyes. Like Moore, it doesn’t feel like she’s acting; it feels as though she’s living every emotion.
Pundan doesn’t just play Kim; she embodies her – her hope, her pain, her resilience. As an audience member, you see her struggles unfold: the absent sparkle in her eyes returning when she meets Chris early in the show, only to fade again when he breaks her heart. In her portrayal of Kim, Pundan pays a quiet, sensitive tribute to the thousands of Vietnamese women who endured similar suffering and loss.
Jack Kane as Chris also shares the same rare gift as Pundan, making the audience feel his pain through both his acting and his powerful voice. You can hear every fracture of his emotional turmoil in numbers like ‘Why God Why?’ and later in ‘The Confrontation.’ His voice carries a desperate weight that lingers long after these scenes end, painfully honest, raw and trembling.
The chemistry between Kane and Pundan is genuine and tender yet tragic all at once, particularly during ‘Solo Saxophone.’ The impressive use of set props, staging and stunning lighting creates a compelling portrayal of the beauty of Vietnamese culture as they dance under the moonlight. The elegant choreography and sincere on-stage connection between the two actors is a privilege to witness and something that cannot be replicated easily.
Together, they complete an exceptional casting.
Set design and staging
The set design deserves its own standing ovation. For a touring production, it’s genuinely impressive. The creative team has achieved something truly special, transporting the audience from the weary streets of Vietnam to the neon glow of Thailand with seamless precision. Even without the original production’s full-scale helicopter, the evacuation scene remains utterly mesmerising. Through the use of masterful lighting, sound, projections, and clever stagecraft, they recreate the chaos and desperation of the Fall of Saigon so vividly that you can almost feel the rotor blades above you.
Every detail feels intentionally deep and respectful. I was genuinely moved by how thoughtfully these moments were created on stage. This production doesn’t just rely on spectacle; it uses sound, light, and human emotion to make history come alive right in front of you.
A final note
If I had to describe this production in just one word, it would be ‘magic.’ The kind of magic that doesn’t come from glitter or illusion, but from pure artistry. It’s real, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s delivered with such respect for the people and the pain it represents.
For me, Miss Saigon was more than just a night at the theatre. It was a reminder of why we tell these stories – to feel, remember, and honour the human lives behind the history.
Find all information regarding dates, cast, and venues on the Miss Saigon UK and Ireland Tour official website.
