@showsiveseen "Operation Mincemeat" #musical at #WestEnd's @FortuneTheatreLDN in London & Broadway’s Golden Theatre in NYC. Seamless cast doubling and thoughtful gender swaping showcased the actors' wide range. The endearing Peter McGovern stole the show in this witty surprise hit. World tour launches Feb 2026! Review: showsiveseen.com/13654 Photos: Matt Crockett Director: Robert Hastie Music Director: Ben Cox #WW2 #WWII #theatre @Operation Mincemeat Broadway @Operation Mincemeat ♬ Making a Man – Operation Mincemeat
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Operation Mincemeat musical at West End’s Fortune Theatre in London & Broadway’s Golden Theatre in NYC. Seamless cast doubling and thoughtful gender swapping showcased the actors’ wide range. The endearing Peter McGovern stole the show in this witty surprise hit. World tour launches Feb 2026!
See it, especially if you enjoy British-style theatre.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably
Mainstream Appeal: Medium
If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes
My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Based on a true story, the British hatch an audacious and unconventional plot to outwit the Nazi forces during World War II.
Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: The year is 1943 and we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Noel Coward meets Noel Fielding, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. The question is, how did a well-dressed corpse wrong-foot Hitler?
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Dynamic, but austere
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate this show more if you’re familiar with the historical war operation.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Union Actors: All
Total Actors: 5
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed
Was there an intermission? Yes
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours
Other Rave(s)
- Gender Portrayal: The casting choices were thoughtfully planned as female actors played roles of power and force, while male actors embodied characters with less agency or influence. For instance, Alex Young (a woman) played Ewen Montagu, an alpha who carried himself with the unshakable white man confidence that the world will automatically fall at his feet. Young delivered the role with commanding presence, exuding “main character” energy reminiscent of Starbuck from the reimagined Battlestar Galactica. In contrast, the endearing Peter McGovern played the geeky, socially-awkward beta underdog Charles “Charlie” Cholmondeley who sang about wanting to be a maggot in “Dead in the Water.”
- Seamless Changes: The cast transitioned fluidly between scenes, locations, and convincing characters without needing transition pauses while still allowing the audience to track each change with ease.
- “Dear Bill” Song: It wasn’t on my bingo card to tear up when Jason Kajdi (or was it Danny Becker?), in drag as a matronly woman Hester Leggatt, sang a poignant love letter to a fake boyfriend. It was a nice touch for his character to accidentally slip the name of the real man who inspired the love letter.
- Nazi Song: The second act opened with an unexpected number, “Das Übermensch.” Styled like a pulsing techno-dance track, it was a satirical piece about the Nazi enemies similar to The Producers “Springtime for Hitler”. The lyric “Goose step to the left, jump to the far right” was particularly clever. At the end, when the audience offered the obligatory (but well-earned) applause, one character broke the fourth wall to scold us, “Really?! Whose side are you on?” It was a brilliantly uncomfortable moment that turned the usual post-song reaction into part of the satire.
- “All the Ladies” Song: Roshani Abbey (as Jean Leslie) led a high-energy female-empowerment anthem that channeled the girl-group swagger of Fifth Harmony and the theatrical flair of Six. At moments, her delivery even echoed the rap style of Nicki Minaj.
- American: As an American watching a British show in a London English theatre, it was funny to see how we are portrayed. The American character was a boisterous pilot in a leather sherpa jacket emblazoned with the USA flag. He carried a hot dog and exclaimed, “Jeez Louise!”
- Substance Over Spectacle: Given the seemingly dull subject matter in the synopsis and the tiny-theatre-that-could vibe of the venue, I didn’t go in with terribly high expectations for this show. But by the end, I was genuinely surprised by the production as a whole. Unlike the big, flashy superficial productions I usually gravitate toward, this one relied on the substance of its script and the cast’s impressive range of talent. It’s easy to see why it won Tony Awards and the Laurence Olivier Awards.
Rant(s)
- Orchestra/Band: The music sounded overly synthesized and artificial to the point where I questioned whether a live band was even present. While digital tools may be more cost-effective than analogue instruments, this is the West End! We expect the richness of real instruments. I’m curious what this sounds like in the current Broadway production.
- Ending (No Spoilers): As with many musicals, the ending felt lazily constructed. It was abrupt with awkward unfolding. The show’s ultimate message was muddled, coming across less as a thoughtful conclusion and more as a smug declaration like “Lucky us, we control the narrative. Sucks to be you.”
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- Breaking Character: In the second act, a few actors broke character with unscripted laughter. It was a refreshing indication that even after countless performances, the cast continues to find joy in sharing the show.
Venue: Fortune Theatre
Venue Physical Address: Russell St, London WC2B 5HH, United Kingdom
Venue Classification: West End
Price Range: £59.50 to 149.50 GBP
Seating: Assigned Seating
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Pictures: See production pictures below by Matt Crockett.
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.
