Theatrical costume worn by Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer in Act I of the production Miss Saigon, designed by Andreane Neofitou, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1989.

Miss Saigon, a musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by John Napier (set), Andreane Neofitou (costumes) and David Hersey (lighting), was produced by Cameron Mackintosh at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, on 20 September 1989 where it ran for ten years. Jonathan Pryce created the role of the Engineer in this production and controversially (as he was not Asian) when the production transferred to Broadway.

Miss Saigon transposed the narrative of Madame Butterfly to the final stages of the 1955-75 Vietnam War. In designing the costumes Andreane Neofitou drew on documentary sources; photographs and film footage and worked closely with costumiers, Bermans and Nathans, who made all the non-uniform costumes. The Engineer, Tran Van Dinh, was a half-French, half-Vietnamese greasy and engaging pimp, the owner of the Saigon bar and brothel Dreamland, and the performance was highly praised. Reviewing the production in the Financial Times (21 September 1989), Michael Coveney wrote that the Engineer was ‘coruscating well played by Jonathan Pryce. Pryce has several big moments as he hitches his escape to the dollar democracy like some oleaginous, limber-limbed hood-eyed emcee from Cabaret.’

Photographs showing Jonathon Pryce wearing both costumes appear in the original souvenir programme of Miss Saigon at Drury Lane. The Act I costume shows The Engineer before he has made it rich.