SINCE first visiting the West End in 1989 at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane Miss Saigon has been captivating audiences across the country.

The heart wrenching story of love and war was revised for a 25th anniversary production which ran at the Prince Edward Theatre 2014- 16 and it's this super-charged juggernaut that is thrilling audiences at the Mayflower until March 17 on its UK tour.

Set during the last days of the Vietnam war, the first thing we see as the curtain rises is a spot light shone on 17-year-old Kim ( played 17-year-old Joreen Bautista, who during this production is making her professional theatre debut) before she is taken away by the notorious pimp the Engineer (Red Concepción).

From the opening number it is clear to see why the show has run for so many years, the gravitas and scale of the set design, how sleek and smooth every movement meant there was always something for the eye to focus on and there was never any dead space.

The main story follows Kim, who on her first night working for the Engineer meets and falls in love with American GI Chris (Ashley Gilmour) but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For three years Kim battles to survive and find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he's fathered a son.

The performances of Bautista and Gimour brought a real passion and tenderness to the story and their beautiful combined vocals on romantic duets - Sun and Moon and The Last Night of the World didn't leave many dry eyes in the packed Southampton theatre.

As well as all the performers - including the entire ensemble - providing absolutely stellar performances, it is the intricacies of the set which add another layer.

From the communist- like march of The Morning of The Dragon, to the more elaborate full-grown helicopter that airlifts the Americans from the US Embassy in Saigon and the glitzy The American Dream, Miss Saigon is a spectacle that can only be really appreciated if witnessed first hand.

Miss Saigon runs at the Mayflower until Saturday, March 17. To book tickets, visit website mayflower.org.uk or call the box office on 02380 711811.