God, that’s brilliant! A daring new British musical has arrived in London’s West End after boasting a collection of prestigious awards, an endless amount of five-star reviews, and being uplifted by positive word-of-mouth from previous incarnations of the show. 

The year is 1943 and the Allies are losing the war. To turn the tides in their favour, MI5 agents come up with an elaborate, albeit bizarre, scheme to deceive Hitler into thinking Sardinia will be the focus of an Allied invasion so that German troops are moved out of Sicily, the real target. 

In order to accomplish this (and here’s the crazy part), they plant false confidential documents on an illegally obtained corpse that they will then float out to sea disguised as a crashed British fighter pilot. It is certainly an unlikely topic for a musical. But the real Operation Mincemeat is a tale so ridiculous in nature that it lends itself perfectly to this bold musical comedy. 

To tell the story are five actors who play multiple roles that completely transcend gender. All of them at some point portray both male and female characters, but in a way that feels so natural you don’t even notice, and each having their own distinct characteristics to tell them apart.

Natasha Hodgson has a striking presence on stage, playing the egotistical Ewan Montagu in a perfectly over-exaggerated way. Alongside her, as Charles Cholmondeley, is David Cummings who has an incredible physicality to his acting, as does Zoë Roberts who portrays a myriad of roles, including Johnny Bevan and James Bond author, Ian Flemming.

In one of the more heartfelt moments of the show, Jak Malone delivers his beautifully crafted solo song as the widowed secretary, Hester. He performs it with so much sincerity and emotion that you can hear the audience holding their breath, taken aback by such a tender moment in the middle of this fast-paced comedy. Claire-Marie Hall completes the cast as a secretary who builds a wonderful relationship with the older, more experienced, Hester.

The music incorporates various styles and genres, ranging from traditional musical theatre and 1940s jazz in line with the period, all the way to sea shanties, rap and a rather surprising techno dance number. The music is amplified by the witty rhyming lyrics that are filled to the brim with clever puns.

Hodgson, Cummings and Roberts are all co-creators of the show, alongside musical director Felix Hagen, making up the theatre company SpitLip. Together they have done an incredible job developing a macabre WWII military operation into a quirky stage musical, highlighting the more ridiculous elements whilst not compromising on the historical truth of the story.

Having its beginnings at a small fringe theatre, it is always wonderful to see success stories like this one. Operation Mincemeat is a satirical masterpiece that feels both engaging and fresh, without losing its fringe theatre charm on a larger stage. The well-structured stylistic choices, clever storytelling, and varied score will engross you from the moment the curtain rises!

If you see anything this summer, make sure it’s Operation Mincemeat.