An exciting new team of secret agents steps onto the Fortune Theatre stage, as Operation Mincemeat welcomes a fresh cast for the next chapter of its incredible journey!
Operation Mincemeat first took shape as a small production at London’s Fringe New Diorama Theatre in 2019. The show quickly developed a devoted following, leading to sold-out runs at venues like Southwark Playhouse and Riverside Studios. Its growing popularity paved the way for its West End premiere at the Fortune Theatre on 9 May 2023. Since then, the musical has gone from strength to strength, winning Best Musical at the Olivier Awards®, WhatsOnStage Awards, and Off-West End Awards. To date, the production has earned 64 nominations, claimed 13 awards, and received an impressive 75 five-star reviews.
Earlier this year, the original West End cast took Operation Mincemeat to Broadway, where it garnered four 2025 Tony Awards® nominations, including Best Musical and Best Featured Actor in a Musical. The Broadway run has also been celebrated with nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical at the Drama League Awards, Outstanding New Broadway Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and Best Musical and Best Ensemble at the Broadway World Awards.
“If Victoria Wood and Eric Idle wrote a musical about World War Two, in the style of Hamilton – you’d be somewhere in the region of Operation Mincemeat” – Read my 2024 review
Operation Mincemeat is based on an astonishing true story from 1943 where a group of eccentric British intelligence officers hatch an audacious plan to outwit the Nazis and change the course of the war- they’ll use a corpse carrying fake secret documents to convince Hitler that the Allies will invade Greece instead of Sicily. As they race against time to pull off their elaborate ruse—complete with forged letters, disguises, and outlandish cover stories—the unlikely spies must navigate bureaucracy, absurd obstacles, and their own insecurities, proving that sometimes the strangest ideas are the ones that save the world.
The mission continues as Operation Mincemeat welcomes a new team of secret agents in Alex Young (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Into the Woods) as Ewen Montague & Others, Danny Becker (Frozen, The Prince of Egypt, Chicago) as Hester Leggatt & Others, Peter McGovern (The History Boys, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery) as Charles Cholmondeley & Others and Roshani Abbey (Hamilton, &Juliet, Gypsy) as Jean Leslie & Others and Chlöe Hart (SIX, Fantasically Great Women Who Changed The World, Evita) as Johnny Bevan & Others.
Operation Mincemeat is the pre-eminent small-cast ensemble show, and this new company proves just why. The cast work seamlessly together, allowing the quick-fire dialogue to soar and the razor-sharp wit to land every time.
Alex Young is pitch-perfect as Ewen Montagu — pompous, chauvinistic, and completely full of himself — relishing every moment of physical comedy and reassuring the audience they’re in excellent hands from the very start.
As fan-favourite Hester Leggatt, Danny Becker brings both strength and grace to the role, with a moving rendition of Dear Bill that left not a dry eye in the house.
Peter McGovern’s hapless Charles Cholmondeley is the ultimate underdog you can’t help but root for, and his delivery of Dead in the Water is both hilarious and unexpectedly touching.
Roshani Abbey gives Jean Leslie warmth and independence in equal measure, with her powerhouse vocals shining in All the Ladies and her beautifully delivered act two duet with Becker, Useful.
Chlöe Hart is a comic force as Johnny Bevan, with flawless timing and a powerful voice that brings the house down.
With so much talent onstage, the score has never sounded better — Operation Mincemeat truly is in safe hands.
With an exceptionally talented cast, you need an equally skilled creative team to bring a show like Operation Mincemeat to life — and it’s safe to say this team has hit the nail on the head.
Robert Hastie’s direction ensures every joke lands, every nuance is fully played, and each of the show’s countless characters (there must be a thousand!) feels distinct and well-defined. Jenny Arnold’s choreography is another standout, keeping the energy sky-high as the actors switch between roles at lightning speed while dancing up a storm. If the cast breathe life into the story, it’s really the seamless blend of direction and choreography that lets the show thrive onstage.
Equally impressive is Ben Stones’ set design. A brilliant set designer can make the complicated look effortless, and Stones does exactly that, creating a space that supports the show’s fast pace without ever losing the scrappy Fringe vibe that reminds us where Operation Mincemeat began.
The score itself is a whirlwind — the lyrics are rapid-fire and the musical styles shift constantly, from ballads to rousing anthems and even the occasional rap. While long-time fans will know the score inside out, for newcomers (or those returning for a second viewing like me), some lyrics were still hard to catch. I’d hoped this would have been addressed after previews — I first saw the West End preview — but despite thoroughly enjoying the show, I often found myself having to watch the actors’ mouths closely just to decipher the words. In such a fast-paced show, with individual lines bouncing from actor to actor in quick succession, this made it harder to stay fully engaged with the characters and story.
That being said, it’s no surprise Operation Mincemeat has become one of the most talked-about and beloved new musicals in recent years — it’s clever, quick-witted, and utterly original. From its humble Fringe beginnings to its award-winning West End run and acclaimed Broadway debut, this show has captured hearts with its inventive storytelling, brilliant ensemble cast, and riotous sense of humour.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or discovering the show for the first time, there’s never been a better moment to join the mission. Grab a ticket, trust this extraordinary new cast of secret agents, and let Operation Mincemeat prove exactly why sometimes the most unlikely plan can save the day — and leave you grinning from ear to ear.
★★★★
Reviewed by Stuart James
Additional information about the West End production of Operation Mincemeat
When is Operation Mincemeat playing in London?
Operation Mincemeat is currently booking until 28 February 2026
What time does Operation Mincemeat start?
Mon – Sat at 19:30
Tue and Sat 15:00
How long is Operation Mincemeat?
Operation Mincemeat is 2 hours 20 minutes incl. interval
What Theatre is Operation Mincemeat on at?
Operation Mincemeat is on at the Fortune Theatre
What is the age recommendation for Operation Mincemeat?
Operation Mincemeat is suitable for ages 6+
Are there any Accessible Performances for Operation Mincemeat?
Yes. There will be a Captioned Performance on Monday 3 Nov 2025 19:30
