West End talent in musical comedy sensation Operation Mincemeat on Nottingham stage
One of the most acclaimed British musicals of recent years is heading to Nottingham – with performers from the West End taking to the stage.
Operation Mincemeat, named Best New Musical at the 2024 Olivier Awards, is arguably the best-reviewed show in West End history, with 77 five-star reviews. It was also nominated for Best Musical in the Tony Awards this year.
The show is set in 1943 – and Britain is losing the war. Luckily, the future of the country is about to be gambled on a stolen corpse.
Billed as “Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train,” Operation Mincemeat is a fast-paced, comical and remarkable true story, telling of the twisted secret mission that helped the Allies win the Second World War. It explains how a dead body, a fake love letter, and - of all people - Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, came together to wrongfoot Hitler.
David Benedict in Variety called it “a little show with a very big future”. Peter Marks in The Washington Post wrote: “The Brits have made the year’s funniest musical.” Neil Norman in the Daily Mirror hailed it is “a miraculous musical that tells the entire story in a kind of accelerated farce that is part Mel Brooks, part Six, part Hamilton with a side order of One Man, Two Guvnors.” Neil Armstrong on The Mail on Sunday commented: Before curtain I talked to a fan seeing this for the seventh time. I wondered why anyone would see the same show seven times. Now I know.”
Reprising their acclaimed roles, West End alumnae Christian Andrews (Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas, ITV’s D Day 80 at the Royal Albert Hall), Seán Carey (The Play That Goes Wrong, BBC One's VE Day 80, A Celebration to Remember), Charlotte Hanna-Williams (Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella; Bells are Ringing), and Holly Sumpton (Lovers Actually, BBC One's VE Day 80, A Celebration to Remember) are joined by new recruit Jamie-Rose Monk (Rome & Juliet, (the) Woman) to form the cast, while Katy Ellis (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Sappho: The Poetess), Georgina Hagen (Only Fools & Horses, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Jordan Pearson (Back to the Future: The Musical, One Man, Two Guvnors), and Morgan Phillips (Babies, The History Boys) complete the company.
The show is written and composed by SpitLip, a quartet of young British talents. They said in a joint statement: “Having launched our show on Broadway this year, we know there's an appetite and a need out there for shows which champion joy, and the power of small groups of people to change the world.” Since premiering at London’s 77-seat New Diorama Theatre in 2019, the show been nominated for 67 awards and won 25, including Best Musical four times at the Olivier Awards, WhatsOnStage Awards, BroadwayWorld Theater Fans’ Choice Awards and Off West End Awards.
Operation Mincemeat is recommended for ages six and above. It runs from July 20 to August 1. Visit trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.