LOOKING at the inside of The Mayflower, it's hard to believe that the theatre will be staging smash West End musical Miss Saigon in less than four months' time.

A £1.8m refurbishment is currently underway at the Southampton theatre, involving the removal of the stage and seating from the stalls area.

The 12-week work programme was prompted by the first UK tour of Miss Saigon, Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed romantic musical set in the last days of the Vietnam War, which would have been too big for the old stage to accommodate.

Totton-based building contractor Mansell and several specialist theatre contractors have been working on the improvements since May 5.

The old, sloping stage has already been removed, with a new, level one due to be installed over the next week, allowing visiting companies to build their own stages on top. Builders will also be creating more leg room for Mayflower customers by removing two rows of seats from the stalls.

Other improvements include an extended wing area, extra wheelchair spaces in the auditorium and a new lift.

"It's quite a shock to see the theatre gutted, but it's also impressive how much work has been done in three weeks," said Mayflower head of marketing Paul Lewis.

The sloping stage has been a feature of the theatre for 75 years. It was last improved when the old Gaumont theatre reopened as The Mayflower in 1987, when an orchestra pit was added.

"It's quite sad to see the old stage going, but the new one will be a major improvement. In the past, companies have had to re-think every major production that comes here.

"There's a piece of scenery in Miss Saigon which it would have been impossible for us to accommodate without more room."

Customers will probably not notice any major difference, Mr Lewis added.

"The main difference is that people wouldn't have been able to see Miss Saigon if it wasn't for the work."

Ticket sales for the show, which runs from September 19 to December 13, are nearing £1.5m.

"I thought once we'd closed the theatre doors, there would be a slacking off of sales but they're still going really well."

Call the box office on 023 8071 1811 for tickets to Miss Saigon.