A WEST End performer will be remembering his glory days when a 25th anniversary performance of Miss Saigon airs in cinemas worldwide this Sunday.

Keith Burns, from Lowton, played Thuy in the original run of the hit musical at the Theatre Royal and Prince Edward Theatre in London.

To celebrate the 25-year milestone, Keith and the rest of the original main cast, including Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga, joined the six leads who now play their parts on stage for a commemorative performance.

That special night will now be shown in cinemas, including Odeon in Westbrook, on Sunday.

Keith, a former St Aelred's High, was in Miss Saigon for a year and a half after featuring in Les Miserables, which celebrated 30 years since its West End debut last year.

He said: "It was a cracking day and I’m very proud to be a part of that show. It’s become nearly as famous as Les Mis and I’m very lucky to have been a part of those two pieces.

"At that time there was a big revival of British theatre. The big blockbusters were multi-million pound musicals. Miss Saigon cost £4million and that was in 1989.

"We did the Olivier Awards, I was on Wogan, we were guests on breakfast TV then we did the Royal Variety Show in 1990."

In the original run of Miss Saigon, Keith and Jonathan Pryce were made to look Vietnamese which was not considered controversial at the time.

Keith, who also had lead roles in Blood Brothers and Cats, added: "We used to have two hours in make-up with prosthetics, contact lenses and wigs and all sorts of things."

That lead to one of his most memorable conversations – with Princess Diana. He met up with her at the gala premiere the night before the opening.

Keith said: "She was a big fan of Les Mis and had seen me in it. I reminded her who I was and she was fascinated with the make-up and prosthetics to make me look Asian.

"She remembered me having long blonde hair in Les Mis. Little things like that keep coming back to me."

But changing attitudes meant Keith lost out on the chance of resuming his role as Thuy on Broadway.

The 53-year-old added: "I was devastated but now I look back it was the right thing – a white guy playing an Asian role seems very old fashioned now."

Keith, who will be watching the Miss Saigon screening in Warrington with his mum Vera, brother Brian and sister Tracey, was inspired to become an actor by his drama teacher Sue Kimberley.

"Sue helped me audition for three drama schools and then I got into Mountview Academy in London and I’ve never looked back," he said.

"My brother was brilliant at sport. He was great at rugby and was on trial for Everton and I was his skinny, little brother."

Keith's first performance was at St Helen’s Theatre Royal for a school production when he was just 12. He also joined Lowton Operatic and Dramatic Society.

"Acting gave me a lot of confidence as I felt like I was in my brother’s shadow," he added.

Keith's first break was getting a part in Les Miserables covering for Michael Ball when he had glandular fever.

He said: "It was my first big job. I then took over as Marius for six months. I got a little bit of a break. That’s how a lot of people saw me and that is why I got invited back to play Enjolras after Miss Saigon.

"Then I was going from show to show. At first we had a three month contract with Les Mis and I thought I would end up in panto or something after that.

"I was naïve. It was so exciting but it was scary being in the West Hand and trying to come up with the goods. It was so competitive."

- Miss Saigon's 25th anniversary performance is being shown at Odeon in Westbrook at 2pm and 6.30pm on Sunday only

DAVID MORGAN