What's Wrong with Miss Saigon

What's wrong with miss saigon?

Challenging Racism and Misogyny in Musical Theatre

Panel Discussion

December 12, 2022

City, University of London

On November 21, 2022, the national touring theatre company, New Earth, and co-producers Storyhouse Chester, withdrew WORTH by Joanne Lau from the Sheffield Crucible in protest of the venue's decision to stage Miss Saigon.

The enormously successful musical Miss Saigon, produced by Cameron Mackintosh, first opened in London's West End in 1989, and later transferred to Broadway.

But is it 'an epic love story' that 'takes place in the last days of the Vietnam War' or 'a racial and sexual fantasy that negates the war's political significance and Vietnamese subjectivity and agency'?

Dr Diana Yeh chaired the session joined by Jennifer Lim of Moongate Productions and BEATS advocacy group; Daniel York Loh, Associate Artistic Director of Kakilang, and actor and writer of plays and musicals; Hilmi Jaidin, musical theatre writer; and Dr Wing-Fai Leung, Senior Lecturer in Culture, Media and Creative Industries, King's College London.

This panel discussion launched the Spotlight Conversation series '#CCISoWhiteOrNot?' led by City, University of London School of Communication & Creativity's Dr Diana Yeh, Associate Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Dr Jenny Mbave, Associate Dean of Employability, Enterprise and Engagement.