Operation Mincemeat | Storyhouse Chester

Operation Mincemeat has been on quite the journey. Initially written in 2019 by the SpitLip Team, which was first performed in an 80-seater studio, the show then went on to become a WhatsOnStage, Olivier and Tony Award-winning musical with productions currently taking place in London, Broadway and UK Tour.

Based on a true World War II mission, Operation Mincemeat follows a group of British intelligence officers who attempt to deceive the Nazis using a dead body carrying fake documents. Together the team form a plan to 'create a man' to enable the German army to believe that the Allies would invade Sardinia instead of Sicily.

SpitLip, consisting of David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts, must be commended for their remarkable work on bringing Operation Mincemeat to the stage. Taking a piece of such absurd history and blending it with sharp satire and surprisingly emotional storytelling is no easy feat, yet Operation Mincemeat feels effortless. From the moment the curtain rises, the musical is non-stop filled with high energy choreography, a surprising mix of songs that cover plenty of different genres, and perfectly crafted production elements.

Seán Carey, Jamie-Rose Monk, Georgina Hagen, Christian Andrews and Katy Ellis complete the cast for this performance, multi-rolling characters and switching characters rapidly, which is hugely impressive. The different character types portray varied archetypes and some flawed individuals, which allows for plenty of humour, but also brings a lot of emotional depth. Hagen, who makes her debut as Ewen Montagu is self-assured and confident, which complements Carey's Charles Cholmondeley perfectly. Carey's bumbling and awkward take on Charles takes audiences on a journey, allowing us to not full trust his plan but routing for him all the same.

Jamie-Rose Monk does a fantastic job as Johnny Bevan, taking on the serious intense authoritative figure who realises the high stakes of the mission and bringing a sense of urgency. Ellis' Jean Leslie is strong-willed and sharp, presenting a woman who is underestimated in a male-dominated environment. Andrews is utterly delightful as Hester Leggatt, (and others). Whilst all the performers do a tremendous job with their multi-roling, Andrews is breathtaking in his rendition of Dear Bill, which allows the musical the space to consider the actual impact that the war had on people and bringing moral question to the forefront. However, Andrews is also utterly hilarious and an absolute riot as the dodgy coroner who finds a body for the team to choose, which is credit to Andrews' ability to bring depth to each of his characters.

Ben Stones' set and costume design, which is deceptively simple but highly inventive, uses a minimalist office which transforms fluidly into multiple locations, without interrupting the flow of the show. In order to allow the show to maintain its fast pace, rapid and comedic costume changes take place which only elevates the theatrical ingenuity. Stones' design continues to surprise, and just when you think it can be taken no further, the glitzy finale aims to prove differently! Mark Henderson's bold lighting design sets the tone when honing in on the emotional threads throughout, but also effectively brings dynamic moments to the forefront, creating tension and atmosphere with torches, strobe lighting and illuminated grids.

It's perfectly understandable why Operation Mincemeat has gathered such a devoted following; the compelling story is perfectly complimented with sharp yet unexpectedly moving writing, inventive staging and a fantastic cast.

Operation Mincemeat is playing at the Storyhouse in Chester until Saturday 09th May as part of its current tour - limited tickets remain here.

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Matt Crockett