Filipino actress Julianne Pundan and Filipino-British performer Seann Miley Moore are set to take on lead roles in the upcoming United Kingdom and Ireland tour of the iconic musical Miss Saigon, which kicks off in October 2025.
In an announcement made by Miss Saigon UK on social media, Pundan was revealed to play the central role of Kim, while Moore will step into the part of the charismatic and cunning Engineer. The casting marks a milestone in both their careers, especially for Pundan, who is making her professional lead debut.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will forever be grateful for. feeling so blessed, this is so surreal,” Pundan shared on Instagram. In a cast announcement video, she recalled being inspired by a documentary featuring Miss Saigon legend Lea Salonga. “When I was younger I watched the documentary of Lea Salonga… we’re both 17 turning 18, auditioning for Miss Saigon. And to think that I have the role now is like, unreal,” she said.
Pundan, who trained at The BRIT School and Sylvia Young Theatre School, has previously performed in Fangirls at Lyric Hammersmith and Just So at BRIT School. Her casting follows in the footsteps of Salonga’s original portrayal of Kim, contributing to the continuing legacy of Filipinos on the world stage.
Seann Miley Moore, who played the same role in the musical’s recent Manila run, expressed pride in performing in the UK as a Filipino-British artist. “We’re bringing this back home to UK because I’m actually half-Filipino, half-British! So, finally performing in the motherland but I need to come back home to the UK to perform The Engineer!,” he said. “All I can say is I’m going to be giving you big slay-sian energy.”
Joining the cast are Jack Kane as Chris, Dom Hartley-Harris as John, Emily Langham as Ellen, ACE as Gigi, Mikko Juan as Thuy, Bea Ward as alternate Kim, and Aaron Teoh as alternate Engineer.
The ensemble features a dynamic mix of performers from diverse backgrounds, including Filipino artists Caleb Lagayan, Ryan Ocampo, and Shania Montevalde. The production is presented by Michael Harrison and Cameron Mackintosh, with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr.
Based on Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon tells the story of Kim, a 17-year-old Vietnamese girl who falls in love with an American soldier during the final days of the Vietnam War. The UK tour is set to run from October 2025 to August 2026, bringing the beloved musical to new audiences across the region.