"World Bound: Plot Thickens in Operation Mincemeat"
Get ready to embark on a thrilling journey as 'Operation Mincemeat', the rollicking Broadway and West End hit musical, prepares to take center stage across the globe! From the bustling cities of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Mexico, and New Zealand, this larger-than-life production is set to storm the world with its exclusive performances.
Back in 1943, when much of mainland Europe was under Nazi control, the Allied forces knew they needed a stronghold to strengthen their position in World War II. To achieve this, they had to launch a surprise invasion, but how could they keep their plans hidden from the enemy? The British naval intelligence came up with an outlandish plot to deploy a dead body! They gave the corpse an assumed identity and backstory, dressing it as a British officer they named Major William Martin. A fake briefcase, filled with detailed mission papers outlining plans to invade Sardinia, was handcuffed to the body, which was subsequently discarded off the coast of Spain. The briefcase, containing vital information about the fake invasion, would then wash ashore and into the hands of the Nazis.
Amazingly, the plan worked! The Germans were fooled into moving thousands of troops from Sicily to Sardinia, which became a watershed moment in the war. Hearing this remarkable story piqued the interest of Natasha Hodgson, Zoë Roberts, David Cumming, and Felix Hagan-the brilliant minds behind the theater troupe SplitLip. Determined to turn this real-life espionage tale into a must-see musical, they set to work crafting a hilarious, heartfelt musical comedy with an international appeal.
Hodgson, Roberts, and Cumming first met as students at Warwick University, where they created and performed horror comedy shows all over the UK, including at the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hagan and Hodgson crossed paths when they were in a band together. One fateful day, Hodgson's brother suggested she listen to a Stuff You Should Know podcast about Operation Mincemeat. As soon as she heard it, her jaw dropped, and she immediately shared the captivating story with her associates.
"It was a completely insane, true spy story that changed the course of World War II," Hodgson recalled. "My jaw hit the floor. I sent it to them, and we never looked back." There was never a doubt in their hearts and minds that they had to bring this extraordinary story to life on stage.
Beginning in 2019 with only two songs and a scene, the group won the support of the 77-seat New Diorama Theatre in London, which offered them a five-week run. That production, produced on a shoestring budget, was an unmitigated success, laying the groundwork for even more transfers and a devoted fan base of "Mincefluencers."
In 2023, 'Operation Mincemeat' made its West End debut at the Fortune Theatre. The show went on to win the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Musical. Apart from Hodgson, Roberts, and Cumming, the cast also featured Claire-Marie Hall and Jak Malone, who had been part of the team since the initial Diorama production and won an Olivier Award for his performance.
Theproposition that this quintessential British musical—created by an unassuming team on a minuscule budget and initially performing in a 77-seat theater—was somehow meant for the Broadway stage might have seemed outlandish at first. But, as Cumming mused, "Maybe deep down in our secret hearts, we might have secretly hoped one day that the show might make it on Broadway...but we never thought it would get to Broadway let alone cross the pond to the home of musical theater. It's beyond anything we ever imagined possible."
This past February, 'Operation Mincemeat' made its Broadway debut at the John Golden Theatre, with the original five-member West End cast portraying over 86 characters. More than 300 "Mincefluencers" flew to New York for the opening performance. Directed by Robert Hastie, the musical was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
It's only fitting that the epic world tour will begin at the Lowry Theater in Manchester on February 16, 2026, where the group's careers first took off—an homage to their humble beginnings. (Tickets go on sale June 5th!) In 2017, during the Lowery's Rewrites showcase for new musicals, SplitLip presented early songs and a scene from the show, featuring the now iconic opener, "God That's Brilliant," which remains in the production.
The tenacious determination and dedication of SplitLip have brought their labor of love to life, creating a visual and aural spectacle that's guaranteed to leave audiences everywhere spellbound. In a nod to the original "corpse" who made Operation Mincemeat a success, Hodgson, Roberts, and Cumming have taken on the role of custodians of his memory and strive to ensure his legacy lives on in history.
"We say his name during every performance before hundreds of people on both sides of the Atlantic now," Roberts shared. "That alone is a kind of powerful."
- Jak Malone, Claire-Marie Hall, and the rest of the 'Operation Mincemeat' cast, including David Cumming, Zoë Roberts, Natasha Hodgson, Felix Hagan, and Zoë Roberts, are set to bring their rollicking musical comedy to various cities beyond Broadway, such as those in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Mexico, and New Zealand, as part of an exclusive global tour.
- As 'Operation Mincemeat' makes its way beyond Broadway, the musical, which began as a small production in a 77-seat theater in London and later won the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Musical, will also be a testament to the power of entertainment and the influence of music, reinforcing its international appeal as it crosses diverse cultural landscapes.
