Operation Mincemeat – The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

Book, Music, and Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, Zoë Roberts

Director: Robert Hastie

Operation Mincemeat is an instant success for the history books. With uplifting music, innovative staging, and a tight-knit, talented cast- you don’t want to miss this. Leading the way for modern musical theatre, Operation Mincemeat is the closest experience you can get to London’s West End on a regional stage. 

Operation Mincemeat invites you into the MI5 at the creation of a plan which could win England the war. All style and no substance Ewan Montagu meets socially inept science fanatic Charles Cholmondeley and their two halves make a whole. With Charles’ carefully designed plan, and Monty’s unwavering backing of it, what could go wrong?

Effortlessly combining the old and the new, Operation Mincemeat somehow makes a half sea shanty, half club dance song work. And if you thought that was bizarre, then just wait for the Third Reich- Backstreet Boys meets rap- sequence, which not only works with hilarious lyrics like “goose step to the left, jump to the far right”, but rivals some of the catchiest musical theatre soundtracks of modern times. You’ll be singing the songs by the time you leave, they’re that memorable.

The set and props of this production are high up on the list for why this is a West End standard production. Not only are the set pieces detail-oriented, but they’re indulgently scattered across the show, moving along the plot or transforming the stage at breakneck pace. You have never seen scene transitions as fast and as seamless as this, one minute you’re looking at the inside of a submarine and seconds later you’re taken to a London pub. This makes part of an unforgettable, jaw-dropping finale to the first act which excels in raising the stakes for the second half. Combining building thrumming music with choreography which makes a night out in London flash before your eyes, this number is nothing short of a spectacle. 

This clever use of props and stage is a credit to director Robert Hastie, choreography by Jenny Arnold, lighting design by Mark Henderson, and set and costume design by Ben Stones. Their combined talent provides a constant treasure trove for the audience to point to their neighbour and wordlessly point out ‘wow, look at that bit’ or ‘did you see when…’ throughout the show.  

This is also a show which firmly knows itself and its unique sense of humour. It takes advantage of the uncanniness of the World War II era, like James Bond writer Ian Fleming, also being one of the boys in the MI5 at the time. This is met with plenty of jokes that Fleming’s only ideas involve ‘a man in a shiny tuxedo’  who gets to kiss a woman with full tongue. The actors’ comedic timing is impeccable and each joke seems to be mapped out to the beat. Not only is the script incredibly witty, with nods and winks to the Monty Python, Blackadder era of male-dominated comedy, but it also has something for everyone in the way of physical comedy. An incredible ‘mix-up scene’ where a confusing exchange takes place and everyone takes the wrong item, is hilariously choreographed and complex. The whole scene leans into the farce of the play’s ‘unlikely, but true story’, main concept.  

But it isn’t all laughs without depth and meaning, Operation Mincemeat excels at building tension and making you hold your breath in anticipation of these characters’ fates. For a story where the audience all know ‘the ending’ in its broadest sense from school history lessons, it is an incredible feat to still make the stakes feel high and the possibilities endless.

Christian Andrews triumphs as Hester Leggatt with the emotional song Dear Bill about a relationship with a soldier at war. Its heartfelt delivery, paired with beautifully written lyrics, meant it is no surprise that it is the longest applause during a show I have ever heard.

Holly Sumpton as the devilishly charismatic and charming Ewan Montagu has incredible vocal strength while maintaining a highly unique character-driven performance. Everyone knows a Monty, someone who loves the sound of their own voice a bit too much, but can get anything done that they put their mind to. Monty is a lovable rogue character who keeps the show afloat. For Sumpton, who is hardly off stage in this demanding role, she makes it look as easy and unflappable as Monty would.  

Operation Mincemeat feels like a shooting star of regional theatre, set to become an instant classic for all of history to see. It combines high production values, talented and unique storytelling, and a perfect cast to give you a guaranteed five-star evening. 

Runs until: 2 May 2026