★★★★★ Operation Mincemeat: The Small but Mighty Show Ready to Take Sheffield by Storm

Photography by Matt Crockett

Operation Mincemeat has swept up major accolades, winning Best New Musical at the 2024 Olivier Awards, followed by Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical at the 2025 Tony Awards and it’s easy to see why. This award-winning production (which holds the record for the most five-star reviews and is widely celebrated as the best-reviewed show in West End history), has clearly earned its reputation for good reason. This review happily adds to the list of glowing praise.

Set in 1943, the story centres on a covert operation within MI5 that mislead Nazi’s into protecting the wrong location, helping the Allies carry out their invasion of Sicily.  It’s a high-energy musical that will have you laughing out loud one moment and deeply moved the next, as this astonishing wartime tale of deception unfolds. The book, music, and lyrics by David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, Felix Hagan, and Zoe Roberts, blends razor-sharp humour with heartfelt storytelling.

The production is directed by Robert Hastie (previous Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres), with visually striking set and costume design by Ben Stones. The creative team also includes lighting design by Mark Henderson, sound design by Mike Walker, orchestrations and vocal arrangements by Steve Sidwell and choreography by Jenny Arnold.

From the rousing opening number “Born to Lead” to the poignant and deeply moving “Sail On, Boys,” which feels like a long-lost naval hymn, each song propels the narrative forward. The score balances heartfelt emotion with comedy, guiding the audience through a rollercoaster of emotions with effortless precision.

The touring cast we saw last night was an absolute triumph. With just five performers playing multiple roles, they remained on stage for the entirety of the production, executing lightning-fast costume changes both onstage and behind the scenes. On opening night, we had the pleasure of seeing Seán Carey (as Charles Cholmondeley & others), Holly Sumpton (as Ewen Montagu & others), Christian Andrews (as Hester Leggatt & others), Jamie-Rose Monk (as Johnny Bevan & others), and Charlotte Hanna-Williams (as Jean Leslie & others).

It was genuinely awe-inspiring to watch such infectious energy illuminate the stage from this small but mighty ensemble. Every member of the cast was astounding in every sense of the word. This is truly a company of performers operating at the very top of their craft. Their camaraderie and chemistry were incredible to witness. 

The audience was audibly raving throughout the interval, as well as the second they left their seats at the end. It was clear that this was a show that has moved people of all ages. It strikes the perfect balance between joy, humour, and solemn reflection — celebrating a little-known story that saved countless lives while acknowledging the sacrifices made during World War II.

The production also pays tribute to the real man at the centre of the operation: Glyndwr Michael, the Welsh vagrant whose body became the crucial element in the deception. His story is handled with care and dignity, adding a deeply human layer to the production. Operation Mincemeat is a show you truly need to experience firsthand to appreciate just how magnificent and deserving of its praise it is.

There are only a small number of tickets remaining for its run at the Lyceum Theatre, which continues until Saturday 25^th April and performances are already close to selling out so get yours here while you can! This is theatrical storytelling at its finest, and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.