A SPECTACULAR production of Miss Saigon was a sell-out success in Bolton.

The hit musical based on Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly, was staged by the senior girls' and boys at Bolton School.

Lead roles were performed by Matthew Kay, played Chris, and Caroline Blair and Molly McLaughlin gave alternate performances playing Kim.

A spokesman for the school said: "Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the audience was instantly transported from the Arts Centre to the gritty and sleazy atmosphere of the Dreamland Club during the opening number The Heat is On in Saigon.

"The often sequin-clad supporting Ensemble assumed a range of demanding roles and impressed with their slick choreography, gymnastic ability and vocal cohesion.Both the cast and band dealt admirably with Boublil and Schönberg’s highly complex musical score with its dialogue reminiscent of operatic recitative.

"The committed performances by all lent a professional edge to the production as a whole — one had to remember that one was watching a school production. After months of collaboration and long hours of rehearsal, Miss Saigon emerged a triumph."