Operation Mincemeat smashed records for being the best reviewed West End show in history collecting a baffling amount of 5-star reviews – and I’m here to tell you each one is earned. Avalon & SpitLip have birthed a raucous, compelling musical comedy for the ages.
The story is intriguing. We are thrust into World War Two, and MI5 are scheming a plan to try and thwart the threat of German aggression across mainland Europe. SpitLip, composed of David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts, authored the script, music and lyrics. They recount the relatively unknown story of ‘Operation Mincemeat’, a real-life plot to trick the Nazi’s into anticipating an allied counter-offensive into Sardinia. The desired effect would be for the Third Reich to move their troops into the island of Sardinia, allowing the allies to move into Sicily, which had just had 90,000 German soldiers vacate. SpitLip have constructed a narrative that is hilariously silly, rife with potent threat and urgency and also powerfully human. They adopt witty lyricism to serve up their larger than life characters and some fantastic sketch-like comedic scenes which accentuate their follies and calamitous tropes.
This cast multi-role and showcase a superb performative dynamism. Their performances are silly and buffoonish yet sincere and full of pathos. They’re men and then they’re women. It’s all played with an addictively exciting confidence that is dreamily entertaining. The scale of these roles and the innate demand in balancing these ought not to be underestimated, and they would be forgiven for moments of slight fatigue, imprecision or uncertainty – but there is none of that. Just raw, unrestrained, generous playing – all at full tilt. I cannot single out a single member of the cast for their quality, yet their quality is so high that I want to. They’re just a remarkable ensemble. They manoeuvre with fervour through Jenny Arnold’s choreography, which is at times belly-bustingly humorous and always slick and rich with intention.
Robert Hastie’s direction is feverishly impressive.
Transitionally this is one of the most fluid and dynamic works you’re likely see. It is almost inconceivable the speed and smoothness in which worlds are transformed, sometimes rapidly in short amounts of time, and always with such theatrical conviction that we don’t even notice the happen. It’s very bold and their bravery is rewarded in what is an arresting framework for storytelling. Ben Stones’ set design is excellently innovative, demonstrating a ‘best in class’ approach to set and its capabilities. This is mirrored in his costume design, which is equally resourceful, striking and effective.
Musically, the piece is also adept. Mike Walker’s sound design is strong, although on the night it feels the dials could maybe have been knocked up slightly in some moments. There are weaving, overlapping cacophonies at times, sometimes spat out with great lyrical haste in rap-like fashion. Sometimes it’s steady and sincere. The work navigates this polarity fashionably well, and it results in resounded compositions and gleefully mercurial musical moments delivered by the cast.
Operation Mincemeat has all the gorgeous, inventive sensibilities of fringe theatre with the majestic, ambitious bombast of West End production – it’s truly the best of both worlds. Secure your tickets now to avoid being disappointed.
Operation Mincemeat is running at Sheffield Theatres’ Lyceum from Monday 13th April to Saturday 25th April. Tickets and further information can be found here: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/operation-mincemeat
Reviewer: Nathan Dunn
Reviewed: 13th April 2026
North West End UK Rating: