Miss Saigon 🌅

The Alhambra Theatre.

This week, I had the opportunity to attend the press night for Miss Saigon at the Alhambra Theatre, and it is honestly one of the most unforgettable productions I have ever seen. A huge thank you to Leanne for the invitation.

As someone who regularly attends the theatre, it feels surprising that this was my first time seeing Miss Saigon. It is one of those productions I have always known about, but nothing could have prepared me for experiencing it live.

Before the show even began, there was a funny moment in the audience when someone nearby asked if another person had fallen asleep, only for the reply to come back instantly: “No one would be able to sleep through this.” At the time, I laughed but wondered what they meant. Now I completely understand.

From the opening moments, the production feels enormous in every possible way. The staging is breathtaking, with seamless transitions, dramatic lighting, and scenes that constantly shift with an intensity that mirrors the chaos surrounding the characters. It feels cinematic at times, but never loses the emotional connection at the centre of the story.

What truly elevated the entire experience for me was the orchestra. Without exaggeration, this is one of the best sounding orchestras I have ever heard in a theatre production. The music felt powerful, immersive, and completely overwhelming in the best possible way. There were moments where the score alone gave me goosebumps before a single word had even been spoken. It added so much emotion and scale to every scene, making the story feel even more devastating and beautiful.

At the heart of the production is Kim, played by Julianne Pundan, whose performance is absolutely incredible. She brings such warmth, vulnerability, and quiet resilience to the role that you immediately become emotionally invested in her journey. Kim is a character trying to survive impossible circumstances while still holding on to hope, love, and humanity, and Julianne captures every part of that so naturally. Her vocals are stunning, but it is the emotional depth behind them that truly stands out.

Alongside her, Seann Miley Moore as The Engineer completely commands the stage every time they appear. The Engineer is charismatic, chaotic, funny, heartbreaking, and morally complex all at once, and Seann plays every side of the character brilliantly. Their performance of The American Dream brought such explosive energy into the theatre that the audience was completely captivated. It was bold, theatrical, and unforgettable.

The wider cast also deserve so much praise because every character feels fully realised.

Even within the larger ensemble moments, there is emotion and storytelling happening constantly across the stage. The relationships feel believable, the heartbreak feels real, and the production does not shy away from showing the lasting impact of war, displacement, and survival.

Miss Saigon is not an easy watch emotionally, but that is exactly what makes it so impactful. It balances moments of humour, hope, love, and humanity against incredibly heavy themes, creating something that feels both intimate and epic at the same time.

Overall, this has easily become one of my top five theatre productions of all time. Days later, I still cannot stop thinking about it or talking about it. The performances, the music, the orchestra, and the sheer emotional scale of the production all came together to create something truly unforgettable.

Miss Saigon is at The Alhambra Theatre from the 5th May 2026 to the 9th May 2026. Tickets are still available, and you can buy your tickets here.