"miss saigon" premiered in the west end at the theatre royal, drury lane on 20 september 1989 and closed after 4,264 performances on 30 october 1999. the director was nicholas hytner with musical staging by bob avian and scenic design by john napier. in december 1994 the london production became the theatre royal's (drury lane) longest running musical, eclipsing the record set by "my fair lady".