Eira Whatmough
(1 Reviews)

Going into this show, expectations were high. Winner of the Best New Musical Olivier award in 2024, Operation Mincemeat had left me with excitement for what was to come. It created an eagerness to discover how they had turned such a dark period of history into a fast-paced musical comedy that has captured the attention of theatre-goers enough to inspire a world tour spanning four continents. As a fan of multirole playing, this five person show inspires anticipation for what the show has in store, and as a person who frequents Lowry, I am never disappointed with the musicals and plays shown.

Operation Mincemeat is a comedic musical that centres around a well-known (successful) mission devised by the British Intelligence during WWII in an attempt to misdirect the German forces about the invasion of Sicily. The story follows a plan to disguise a dead body as a royal marine officer, who was carrying ‘sensitive’ documents, and have it in a plane crash over neutral Spain’s waters in order for it to land in enemy hands (German spies who were stationed in Spain). It focuses on the involvement of five main characters as well as multiple others who had smaller involvement in the success of the plan.

Getting to watch this outstanding cast was unbelievable, with Christian Andrews (Turning the Screw, Cinderella) who fully embodied the character of Hester, amongst other characters such as the American Pilot and Burnard Spilsbury, and brought tears to our eyes both from laughter and sadness. He created a hilarious villain within Spilsbury, covered in bloody jazz hands and a sparkly apron, whilst also portraying the reserved and sharp Hester with a well suited finesse.  Seán Carey (The Play That Goes Wrong, Sweeney Todd), playing the genius, if socially awkward, Charles Cholomondeley as well as his brief, yet memorable stint as an office clerk, and his impressive performance of Dr. Nararro, the Spanish coroner, created a unique atmosphere for each of the characters he played. He brought each character to life in distinct ways, keeping it easy to distinguish each character from the others whether that through accent, posture or even nervous habits. Alongside them was the talented Charlotte Hanna Williams (Bells Are Ringing, The Wing in the Willows), who perfectly played the independent, empathetic Jean, portraying her as youthful and inexperienced in a light and comedic fashion whilst also making sure to keep the audience hooked and aware of the situation women faced during both the wars. She also featured as Haselden’s assistant, commonly seen with extreme bad posture and Haselden’s telephone. She brought the meek, ‘geeky’ character to life with impeccable comedic timing and line delivery as well as performing the complicated choreography for the four person briefcase swap scene, and showing a woman unafraid to uplift others and speak up for herself. Castmate Holly Sumpton (Lovers actually, Till The Stars Come Down) brought to life the egotistical, self-centered MI5 agent Montague, as well as briefly appearing as a London Newsperson, a Submariner and an office clerk. She creatively encompassed the role of a stereotypical narcissistic man who believes himself smarter and better than his peers, irony clear in the character being played by a woman. She uses her skills to really embody the character and his core attributes whilst also hitting every punchline well in order to get the joke across.  Jamie-Rose Monk (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) really is to be commended for her absolute iconic performance, spanning from Johnny Bevan, the strict, no nonsense captain, to the overly sweaty contact for Spain, Francis Haselden. She really is a talented and well rounded actor who knows how to engage an audience. She masters the art of quick changes in the musical, showcasing her skills as an extremely multifaceted actor, with Bevan, a submariner, Haselden, bar staff, an Admiral painting, a Nazi girl band member along with many others.

One particular stand out moment from the show, especially as it is a comedy, is the deeply emotional and tear evoking ballad, ‘Dear Bill’ sung by Christian Andrews as Hester Leggatt, which was powerful enough to get the audience’s sympathy for a character that was previously seen as an uptight rule follower, rather than the woman who had a partner, and dreams and aspirations. Another moment for remembering was the cleverly choreographed scene showcasing the swapping of hats, telephones and the briefcase that the show is centered around. The speed in which everything happened made an already complicated piece impressive to execute but was conveyed perfectly to get a good laugh out of the audience.

Another person to commend is the director Robert Hastie (Guys and Dolls, Hamlet), who did an absolutely incredible job of directing this show. With a cast of only five, it is imperative that each moment is purposeful and filled, but not so much so the actors are run ragged. Robert Hastie perfectly balanced this performance and the choreography from Jenny Arnold truly complimented and enhanced the work put into the show. The music is a big part of the show and we couldn’t have asked for better music. The fast-paced, upbeat score composed by the group Splitlip, made up by the members David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, Felix Hagan and Zoë Roberts got them receiving the Best New Musical Olivier Award in 2024, as well as three Tony nominations for Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical in 2025. All of this was complemented by the minimalistic set, designed, along with the costumes, by Ben Stones, which made set changes quick and easy to follow, whilst also engaging and relevant.

Operation Mincemeat expertly balances humour and the reality of wartime methods. It’s a great show to enjoy as a family outing, its music captivating and easy to enjoy for all ages, whilst its quick wit entices adults. The age rating as put out by the show is 5+, however there are mild profanities sprinkled throughout the show which are witty enough for them to get away with. This show is a captivating and exciting musical whilst staying largely factually correct, which makes it a great choice for all people, history buff or not.