THE first big musical on the Wales Millennium Centre stage this year is Cameron Mackintosh's new production of the legendary Miss Saigon. Landing in Cardiff on June 7 for a five-week run, Miss Saigon is one of the largest touring productions in the UK with a company of over 50 actors and musicians.

It has proved to be a huge hit with Welsh theatregoers as ticket sales have soared to over the £1million mark - and that was two months ahead of its opening.

Judith Isherwood, chief executive of the Wales Millennium Centre said "We're thrilled to have reached this financial milestone, however there are still some good seats available for this wonderful show."

The recent two-year tour, based on the original London production of Miss Saigon which closed in December 2003, broke records at the six largest theatres in Britain.

Many other UK cities have long wanted to stage the show, but for this to happen a completely new design had to be created, as the original production could not fit on their stages.

Cameron Mackintosh has already developed a hugely-acclaimed new production of the show in America which is able to play varying sized auditoriums in a tour which has been so successful that it is now booking into its fourth year.

Set in 1975 during the final days leading up to the American evacuation of Saigon, it is an epic love story about the relationship between an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman.

Using cutting-edge visual techniques, this production vividly recreates the streets of Vietnam and Bangkok, including of course the memorable final helicopter flight from the roof of the American Embassy.

It has been performed in 18 countries, in nine different languages, has won 29 awards and has been seen by over 31 million people worldwide. To date it has grossed over £950 million at the box office around the world.