Brighton Theatre Royal Review: Operation Mincemeat

Rating: ★★★★★

Running Dates: Tuesday 26th May-Saturday 30th May

Where to see it: Brighton Theatre Royal

Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes incl. interval

Review

The ingeniousness of Hamilton meets the mystery of Strangers on a Train in this satyrical, tongue-in-cheeck war musical. Operation Mincemeat is a show like you’ve never seen one, dazzling and hilarious to the highest level.

Photography by Matt Crockett

It’s 1943, and the Allies are losing the war. Hitler’s invaded Europe, and our only hope is to gain control of Sicily. But how would we face the hundreds of thousands of German soldiers? Thankfully, an ingenious bee-adverse scientist has come up with the perfect plan. But he’ll need the help of England’s best spies: the MI5s. The first step? Find a corpse.

Winner of the Olivier Award for ‘Best New Musical’ and the Tony Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’, Operation Mincemeat delivers on its promise of a night of laughter, mystery, and great music. Everything from the stage production, to the songrwriting, to the costumes was planned to the finest detail to create a believable, well-rounded backdrop for this incredible tale.

Photography by Matt Crockett

The cast absolutely took it away with their witty, engaging, over-the-top performances. Rarely a minute went by without the audience roaring in laughter. A special shoutout is due to Christian Andrews and Holly Sumpton, who performed with such magnetism and passion. Each character had its own unique, irresistible personality, and they all merged and clashed in perfect harmony.

Writer and creator David Cumming describes Operation Mincemeat as ‘a story of hope, of joy, and of abject silliness in the face of fear’. Despite being based on a 70-year old event, the message that Operation Mincemeat delivers is still as relevant and as important.

I left the theatre last night mesmerised. Operation Mincemeat is funny, uplifting, and incredibly exciting. A must-see.

Written by Roberta Guarini

We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review