Big time musical on the launchpad at Theatre Royal
New Miss Saigon production ready for lift off
Imagine feverish excitement, maybe some first-night nerves, behind the scenes at the Theatre Royal.
The major new production of Miss Saigon is ready for launch – or maybe for take-off, this being a show with a famous helicopter scene.
It’s not often a big commercial musical production begins its life in Newcastle but local lad Michael Harrison, producing “in association with” Sir Cameron Mackintosh (the man who also brought us ‘Les Mis’ and much more), insisted that should be the case.
So it’s in the city for an extended run, until October 25, before flying off to Edinburgh and then a further 22 UK city venues thereafter (so far).
With the rehearsing done and the sets and costumes – one would hope – perfect and pristine, all that remains is for Saturday’s first-night audience to take its seats.
Judging by the theatre website, there are unlikely to be any gaps in the auditorium for the opening performance. Two seats in the amphitheatre, £45 a pop, are all that remain as I write this, and they’ll probably be gone by the time you read it.
‘Limited availability’ is the advice relating to most of the 25 performances, seven of which are matinees, and that’s good for the box office if not for those who favour a spur-of-the-moment purchase.
Saturday night will be a big one for another North East lad, Ben Fenwick, who returns to the Theatre Royal stage where he last appeared in Heathers in the autumn.
Ben, who is in the ensemble, started stage school in North Tyneside at the age of nine and attended many shows at the Theatre Royal as a child. Having graduated from the Arts Educational Schools in London last year, he is now keen to make a mark as a fully-fledged performer.
He “can’t wait” to be treading the boards in Newcastle in this new production of a famous musical (it first entered the canon back in 1989, premiering in London’s West End where it notched up 4,264 performances over 10 years).
“It is a dream show of mine and an honour to be opening the tour at my home venue,” says Ben.
Other cast members include Julianne Pundan, making her professional debut as Kim, Seann Miley Moore as The Engineer, Jack Kane as Chris, Dom Hartley-Harris as John and Emily Langham as Ellen.
Cameron Mackintosh has been in Newcastle overseeing the finishing touches and a successful first night would be a nice early birthday present for this knight of the theatre who turns 79 on October 17.
Although evidently selling fast, there are still tickets to be had for Miss Saigon. Check the Theatre Royal website for availability.