The best-reviewed show in West End history has just opened in Manchester, and it’s a must-see for any theatre lover.
When you think of a great topic or story for a glitzy musical, an underground secret mission of World War II doesn’t exactly spring to mind.
But Operation Mincemeat suddenly turns this very serious snippet of history into the most hilarious thing you’ve ever seen.
From starting out as a small fringe musical about a covert British war plan, Operation Mincemeat is now a huge West End and Broadway Smash having received a monumental 88 five star reviews.
Image: Supplied
So, how did the British MI5 trick Hitler with a corpse, an engagement ring, a love letter and a collection of receipts?
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Well, this musical walks you through it in a style that combines Monty Python with Six the Musical, in the most brilliant way.
The cast consists of only five performers, each who play a myriad of rolls of both genders – and this is no mean feat.
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Holly Sumpton leads the troops as the Eton-educated, dapperly dressed and much too self-assured Montague.
It’s a perfect performance that leads the narrative, and pokes fun at the posh male entitlement that is only heightened by her physical humour made better by the cross-casting.
Seán Carey plays the bumbling and sweet scientist Charles, a character that lacks the boarding school confidence yet gains the trust of the audience as we root for his success. Carey’s physicality and playfulness made for some of the night’s funniest moments.
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Charlotte Hanna-Williams plays a headstrong Jean as she tries to break through the misogynistic ideals of war time Britain, and Jamie-Rose Monk is an absolute hoot as Bevan and a whole host of other roles – popping up in places you’d never expect somehow wearing a different hat or waistcoat.
The highlight performance for me though was Christian Andrews, who flicks between the slimy coroner Spilsbury and meticulous yet loveable MI5 matron with utter ease.
The song Dear Bill was a welcomed tender moment nearing the end of act one in the high-pace, slapstick performance that left no dry eye in the house.
But it’s not the individual performances that make Operation Mincemeat so spectacular, it’s an absolute masterclass in multi-rolling with no performer missing a beat throughout.
It’s fast, it’s risky (there’s even a couple of swastikas), at often times its heartfelt, and its downright bloody hilarious.
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This is why original musicals matter, and this one certainly deserves its flowers.
Operation Mincemeat is at The Lowry until Saturday28 February before embarking on a world tour, and you can get your tickets here.
New stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House to arrive in Manchester this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
A brand-new stage adaptation of a bestselling horror novel and TV series is coming to Manchester this Halloween.
Following the critically acclaimed Netflix hit series that introduced a new generation to the eerie masterpiece, author Shirley Jackson’s famous The Haunting of Hill House is being turned into a brand-new stage adaptation later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester’s most iconic stages at the spookiest season of all.
Written by Olivier and BAFTA award-winner Stef Smith, and directed by Martin Constantine, the new production is set to conjure the iconic supernatural thriller on stage.
It will be making its world premiere with a UK tour this autumn, stopping off in several major towns and cities along the way.
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, The Haunting of Hill House follows a group of daring investigators who take on the mystery of Hill House, before their curiosity quickly descends into fear.
A new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House is coming to Manchester this Halloween / Credit: Supplied
“The Haunting of Hill House is one of the greatest supernatural novels of the last hundred years and to have the chance to adapt it for the stage is a true privilege,” explained writer Stef Smith, as the UK tour was announced this week.
“I find Shirley Jackson’s world intoxicating, thrilling and gut-wrenching.
“I believe there is something so deeply theatrical at the heart of Hill House. From the spooky, to the surreal, through heartache and hope. I hope that our cast of characters will take the audience along for a ride quite unlike anything else. Above all we will examine that the biggest horrors are usually human.”
The brand-new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House will arrive in Manchester and take to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre from Tuesday 27 October right through to Halloween itself (Saturday 31 October 2026).
The full cast and creative team for the new production is set to be announced shortly, so keep your eyes peeled.
Tickets go on pre-sale tomorrow at 10am, before general sale begins on Friday (20 February), again at 10am, and you book your place here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Theatre
Multi award-winning musical Back to the Future returns to Manchester next summer
Emily Sergeant
Nearly six years after making its world premiere here in Manchester, Back to The Future The Musical is returning to our city next summer.
The multi award-winning musical – based off the beloved 1985 film of the same name – held its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House back 2020, but unfortunately, as you can probably guess, its run was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, flash forward to 2027, the production is returning to ‘settle some unfinished business’.
Lead producer Colin Ingram, together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, have announced that the musical will return to Manchester as part of its first-ever UK tour.
Directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando, alongside a multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team, Back to the Future The Musical has a book by Bob Gale, and new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard.
Multi award-winning musical Back to the Future is returning to Manchester / Credit: Supplied
Additional hit songs from the film, including ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’, are also included in the production, making it a real trip down memory lane for fans.
The show will run at Manchester Opera House from 13 July through to 21 August 2027, following its run in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre, where it’s currently in its fifth year, having broken box office records and being seen by more than 2.3 million people.
“Speaking for the entire creative team, we are beyond thrilled to be returning to the Manchester Opera House, which we consider the birthplace of Back to the Future The Musical and one of the UK’s best venues,” commented co-creator Bob Gale.
“No city has ever given us a better reception and the incredible audience response we received in 2020 helped shape the show creatively in myriad ways.”
Back to the Future The Musical will take to the Manchester Opera House stage from 13 July – 21 August 2027, and tickets officially go on general sale tomorrow (18 February) at 10am.
Clementine Hall -
25th February 2026 
