The West End premiere of Operation Mincemeat opens its extended run at London's Fortune Theatre May 9. Previews began March 31 for the new musical, which is based on a true story from World War II. With six more weeks of performances added, the musical will play through August 19.
Set in 1943, Operation Mincemeat explores the true story of a secret military operation meant to turn the tide of the war. With the Allies losing, the British military develop an idea: to use the well-dressed corpse of a homeless man to feed Hitler and his advisors incorrect information.
SpitLip's David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts wrote and composed the work with Cumming, Hodgson, and Roberts all reprising their roles in the cast from the Off-West End run. They are joined by Claire-Marie Hall and Jak Malone, with Seán Carey, Geri Allan, Christian Andrews, and Holly Sumpton serving as understudies. Casting is by Pearson Casting.
2023 Olivier nominee Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky's Edge) directs the production with Olivier nominee Jenny Arnold (Jerry Springer: The Opera) returning as choreographer from the show's previous run at Riverside Studios in the summer of 2022. Joining them on the creative team are 2023 Olivier nominee Ben Stones (Sylvia) as set and costume designer, Tony and Olivier winner Mark Henderson (Girl From the North Country) as lighting designer, Olivier winner Mike Walker (Jerry Springer: The Opera) as sound designer, and Tony and Olivier nominee Steve Sidwell (Beautiful: The Musical) as orchestrator and vocal arranger.
The musical's original London cast recording was recently announced to drop May 12. Operation Mincemeat was commissioned by New Diorama Theatre, co-commissioned by The Lowry, and supported by the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat with additional support from Avalon. It played five sold-out development runs at the New Diorama Theatre in 2019, followed by runs at Southwark Playhouse in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Last summer, the musical also had an extended run at Riverside Studios.
The story has previously been adapted into three books, a TV episode, a play, and two films. The latest adaptation was the 2022 movie starring Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, and Mark Gatiss.
The show is presented in the West End by Avalon in association with SpitLip. Fortune Theatre was previously home to the 33-year run of The Woman in Black.
Visit OperationMincemeat.com.
