The hit musical opens its UK tour in Salford, promising sharp comedy, big heart and a story stranger than fiction.
Preview by Ian Cheeseman
If the reviews are anything to go by, Operation Mincemeat is a show you won’t want to miss. It opens its UK tour at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, arriving with an impressive haul of accolades: 88 five‑star reviews, a 2024 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and a Tony Award from its Broadway run. That’s quite a pedigree. I haven’t seen it yet myself, but if I get the chance, I’ll certainly share my verdict.
Set in 1943, the musical tells the true story of one of the most audacious deceptions of the Second World War. Two cast members joined me on my radio show Break‑a‑Leg to explain more.
Sean Carey, who plays Charles Cholmondeley and several other roles, told me:
“It’s a true story from World War Two when MI5 tricked the Nazis, diverting 90,000 troops from Sicily to Sardinia by dressing up a dead homeless person as a pilot, handcuffing a briefcase of fake documents to his wrist and dumping the body off the coast of Spain so it washed ashore.
The idea was that they’d find it and think a plane had crashed and they’d stumbled on these incredible documents.”
It’s certainly an extraordinary premise. Holly Sumpton, who plays Ewan Montague and others, said the comedy element brings its own challenges:
“It’s a comedy, which brings its own unique pressure. I never thought I’d end up in this world of big, bold comedy, but it’s so satisfying. It’s silly, but it requires skill and teamwork. The music is so varied. You think you’re entering one style and then the next song takes you in a completely new direction.
“Those contrasts happen a lot in the show, both in the music and the characters. You can’t really nail down what genre of musical theatre it is — it’s kind of everything — but the genius of the writing is that it all threads together so well.
Two songs that seem so different are reprised in the second half and it all comes together brilliantly. It’s full of great earworms. When I first heard the music, I was humming three different tunes afterwards.”
Launching the tour at The Lowry is a real coup for the North West, and the production will travel across the UK throughout 2026.
Sean says touring brings its own rewards:
“Once the show is set, we get the chance to get out and about and we build this little community. It’s interesting seeing different audiences. Northern audiences are always amazing, so we’re super excited to start up north; they’re always up for a good time.”
From the sound of it, Operation Mincemeat is a show well worth catching.
Operation Mincemeat runs at The Lowry, Salford, from 16–28 February 2026 before touring the UK throughout the year.