Operation Mincemeat Review: historical wartime romp as brilliant as ever
- Jack Davey
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
06 July 2026 I 19:30 I Hull New Theatre (UK Tour)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I PR - Invite
The true story of Operation Mincemeat is one of extraordinary proportions. In 1943, a team of MI5 agents are tasked by Winston Churchill to carry out an impossible mission: hide the British allied invasion of Sicily.
And the hero of the story? A deceased homeless man, disguised as 'Major William Martin'. His body was equipped with false military intelligence, love letters and receipts to make a believable Marines officer. It was so ingenious that it tricked German forces, and turned the tide of World War II.
This week, Hull New Theatre hosts the musical of the same name, on its first UK Tour following critical praise across the West End and Broadway (113 five-star reviews and counting)! First penned as a studio production by SpitLip, the show is taken on by five versatile performers, combining satire and historical thriller.
You'll want to keep your brain and ears switched on at all times, it runs at a fast pace. With music and lyrics by the SpitLip team, musical numbers can often be very wordy, where audiences concern themselves with concentrating on the lyrics rather than simply sitting back to enjoy. However, there is still so much creative and original work in there. Whether its the sea-shanty style Sail On, Boys, or the energetic-pop of Das Übermensch, featuring dancing Third Reich soldiers. It takes risks, and the array of genres help to keep the show engaging.
Another of Operation Mincemeat's best feats is its subversion of gender, flipping three of the five principal characters to provide commentary on wartime attitudes. Particularly Holly Sumpton's Montagu, played with gusto and self-assurance. She performs the hyper-masculine, egotistical lead of the mission, where casting Montagu as a cisgender woman gives us the opportunity to see women taking importance in the 40s, and imagines what if? In addition to Charlotte Hanna-Williams's bright and amiable Jean Leslie, a 19 year-old office clerk who refuses to be undermined by her male superiors.
Designed by Ben Stones, the set tonally compliments the narrative, with the back wall resembling graph paper as a nod to its analytical story. That is until A Glitzy Finale, which parodies the spectacle of the budget-blasting final number in musical theatre. Reprising some of the show's greatest hits and attaching sequins to every surface, it is such a contrast to earlier scenes. Your jaw will certainly be on the floor!
Seán Carey makes for a most wonderful Charles, whose social awkwardness beams on the stage. Leading with enthusiasm and lolloping slapstick humour, Carey quickly becomes an audience favourite. Charles' random oddities such as 'does a newt have a penis?' lean into cheesy humour which may not be to everyone's taste, yet clearly adored by the majority.
Even amongst all the humour, the biggest surprise comes from Hester (Christian Andrews) in Dear Bill. The song begins as a fictional love letter to Major William Martin, although Hester draws on her previous wartime romance and heartbreak, which Andrews delivers with emotional depth and maturity. And Jamie-Rose Monk rounds the cast off perfectly with an eccentric array of characters, from bumbling consul Haselden to a tuxedo-obsessed Ian Fleming!
Shortly ahead of the curtain call, the cast share a scene where they step outside of their humorous characters, and break the fourth wall as they honour the man instrumental to the operation's success: Glyndwr Michael. A homeless Welshman who moved to London to seek a better life during the Great Depression. His corpse may have been used unlawfully, but without him, British allies may not have won the war. This moment of respect is both welcome and earnest.
It is evident to see why Operation Mincemeat is such a revelation of modern musical theatre, originally directed by Robert Hastie. I last saw the show in 2023, where its design and delivery have been updated since. Especially with the help of Jenny Arnold's choreography, the piece is stylish and slick. From starting out in limited capacity off-West End venues, to its indomitable rise to Broadway and worldwide tours, Operation Mincemeat's creative journey is mighty and thoroughly deserved.
UK Tour Information and Tickets: https://operationmincemeat.com/tour/uk/
