Review: Operation Mincemeat (UK Tour)

24-02-26 Lowry, Salford Quays by Jamie Griffiths

★★★★★

There is a certain pressure that comes with seeing Operation Mincemeat in 2026. The show arrives at Lowry at the start of its first ever UK tour with a mountain of awards, universal acclaim and more five star reviews than most productions see in a lifetime. I will admit, I was reluctant. No one wants to be the sheep following the flock.

But it is impossible not to fall for its charms.

Created by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts, Operation Mincemeat has become something far greater than a cult comedy hit. It is a musical that feels timeless. At Matinee, we have been playing “God That’s Brilliant” and “All the Ladies” for some time now. It has comfortably sat in the upper echelons of our Top Musicals of 2024 and 2025. This UK tour almost guarantees another high placing in 2026.

What strikes you immediately is the sheer work ethic on stage. This is one of the hardest working casts I have ever seen. Five performers leave you convinced you have watched a company of twenty. Costume changes happen seamlessly and frequently, often in full view of the audience. It is technically astonishing. Groundbreaking, even. A revelation in how to maximise theatrical imagination without excess.

Everything about the staging feels ingeniously conceived. The design works in perfect harmony with choreography that is among the tightest and most fluid I have seen in any stage show. It is precise, sharp and constantly inventive. This is a production that will reward repeat viewings because you simply cannot catch everything in one go.

It is impossible not to praise every member of this cast.

Christian Andrews delivers a powerful and authentic Hester Leggatt. When Hester sings “Dear Bill” it marks a pivotal moment. If there was any doubt before, this comedy musical reveals itself as deadly serious and deeply respectful. Ironically the song sits within one of the production’s fictional layers, yet it lands with emotional truth. The Lowry felt utterly still.

Jamie-Rose Monk is extraordinary. A lyrical genius who spits bars with effortless clarity while shifting between multiple distinct characters. None blur into one another. Each is fully realised. The speed of the costume changes only heightens the skill involved.

Charlotte Hanna-Williams brings warmth and vocal power to Jean from the typist pool. It is an energetic performance that gives voice to someone historically sidelined. When she steps forward, you feel the shift.

Seán Carey as Charles Cholmondely delivers some of the evening’s biggest comic moments. Alongside Holly Sumpton as Ewen Montague, they form the double act that shone brightest for me. Their chemistry is electric. Vocally, whether in accent work or musical phrasing, they are note perfect.

There is something poetic about this tour opening at Lowry. Operation Mincemeat began life here in the Salford Quays theatre. To witness “Dear Bill” performed in the theatre where it was born, now as part of a fully fledged UK tour that follows Olivier and Tony Award success, feels quietly historic.

This is not hype. It is not herd mentality. It is simply exceptional musical theatre. Operation Mincemeat is currently at Lowry and it remains one of the greatest modern musicals of our time. And yes, it earns every single one of those five stars.

Get tickets from the official site HERE