Operation Mincemeat (2025/26 West End Cast) at the Fortune Theatre
- AnxiousTheatregoer
- Jun 26
- 7 min read
Welcome to the new recruits of MI5, as Operation Mincemeat enters its third year in the West End. It’s no secret that I adore this show, and I was so excited for a chance to see even more interpretations of the characters that have become so special to me. Following its transfer to Broadway, the West End has received some of the glitzy overseas changes, and this made me more excited to return since the Cast Change performance. The changes meant this show once again had new elements for me to spot alongside its brilliant new cast, and I cannot wait to return again soon!
Operation Mincemeat is currently on in the Fortune Theatre until the 28th of February, awaiting further intel, and will be heading on a World Tour from 2026 as well as running on Broadway currently until the 15th of February. Operation Mincemewat is the true embodiment of the little show with a big future, and I love to see every part of its journey.
The Fortune Theatre is a small venue, and I have found legroom in the Upper Circle to be fairly limited and have been informed that the Dress Circle has less legroom than the Stalls but more than the Upper Circle. Due to day-based pricing, I tend to book the stalls, especially an aisle seat, but I have never sat in the Dress Circle, so I can personally only compare it to the Upper Circle. Also, the stage is very high, and I have found that sitting in Rows AA or A can be uncomfortable due to having to look up for a long period of time. SeatPlan is very good for helping to ascertain the legroom, view and general comfort of a seat ahead of booking.
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*
My Review:
God, Operation Mincemeat is brilliant with showstopping numbers and glitzy finales, this show really does have it all. The award shows certainly agree, and it must be said that this show is so deserving of every medal they receive. From a small off-West End show to an Olivier and Tony-winning West End and Broadway, the journey not only presented in the show but the journey of the show itself truly is inspiring and highlights the importance of championing new theatre.
Ewen Montagu is embodied by the sensational Alex Young, capturing the egotistical, public school side of Montagu that is often used to hide any element of doubt or fear in Ewen’s mind that the plan may not succeed. Her energy is out of this world, and I adored the freshness of her portrayal as she completely leaned into the entitlement of Montagu whilst also allowing her energy and enjoyment of the role to shine through. Alongside her outstanding portrayal, her voice is a joy to listen to, and I was truly blown away by her all-around talent. The way that Alex Young alters her verbalisation as certain words and phrases, especially to convey when she is being mocking, further allows her to completely embody Ewen Montagu and watching her perform, I was utterly drawn in with a love-to-hate-him relationship to her Montagu. This comedic timing means that when Ewen Montagu flips on Jean after she points out his error, it is a more stark change that catches the audience off guard as it feels more unexpected from Alex Young’s Montagu, but after it happens, you find yourself realising that you should have seen it coming as the egotism was rife throughout her portrayal.
Charles Cholmondeley is brought to life brilliantly by Peter McGovern. I adored this portrayal of Cholomdeley, as for me, Peter McGovern perfectly encapsulates the subtle anxiousness of Charlie throughout the journey of Operation Mincemeat. Especially when considering his mannerisms and interactions with the other performers/characters on stage whilst playing his main role of Charles Cholomondeley. His rendition of Dead in the Water blends vocals and performance, allowing Peter McGovern to showcase his talent without losing his captivating portrayal. His portrayal of Charles Cholmondeley is extremely layered, as past the anxious nature the audience sees creeping into his interactions you also see when his Charles comes out of his shell, especially during Just For Tonight, and this layering of the character keeps the audience on the toes and it is wonderful to see Charles Cholomondeley grow and become more confident as the story progresses.
The roles of Ewen Montagu and Charles Cholmondeley could be considered to be the driving force/storytellers of Operation Mincemeat, meaning that these characters are consistently interacting with each other on the stage. The chemistry between Alex Young and Peter McGovern is absolutely sensational, and their ability to play off of each other as well as their other castmates further brings their characters to life. Their interactions are hilarious, and they never miss a beat, so small additions and mannerisms do not affect the flow of the show. The comedic timing between them further makes the moments where Montagu loses his cool as things start to fall apart an even starker contrast. The complete 180 in the way Alex Young’s Montagu treats Peter McGovern’s Charles Cholmondeley feels more out of normal from how they normally interact, making this shift more impactful and highlighting to the audience the gravity of the situation they are in.
Johnny Bevan continues to be played by the fabulous Chlöe Hart, who never ceases to amaze me. After having seen her in both Six and with the Year 2 cast of Operation Mincemeat, I was very intrigued to see how her portrayal and interactions may have grown with the introduction of a new cast. Chlöe Hart’s portrayal of Johnny Bevan balances a commanding performance and perfectly complements her castmates for a fabulous characterisation and show. Chlöe Hart is hilarious as Haseldan, bringing to life this ‘baffling, sweaty character’ with such fun that you can’t help but be in stitches, and her sing-off with Steve whilst playing Haseldan gives her the perfect opportunity to showcase her outstanding vocals, which are truly so impressive. Entering her second year in the role of Johnny Bevan & Others has meant that Chlöe Hart’s characterisation has grown and her already fabulous characterisation now features more subtleties that add more dimensions to her performance, making her all the more captivating to watch onstage.
Hester Leggett was portrayed by the incredible George Jennings. I was fortunate to see George Jennings as Charles Cholomdeley & Others with the Year 2 cast, but missed his Hester Leggett & Others, so I was thrilled when he was announced to be on for this performance. His rendition of Dear Bill was simply divine, with vocals that are a joy to listen to, also seen by his Dead in the Water when he plays Charles Cholmondeley & Others. However, additionally, during Dear Bill, he showcases a beautiful characterisation that captures the mixture of hope, but also sadness and grief that Hester experiences during this captivating moment. Dear Bill provides a break from the fast-paced nature of Operation Mincemeat and the softness of George Jennings' performance as Hester Leggett leans into this, drawing the audience into the experience of Hester and allowing the audience to relate to and sympathise with her. Despite the soft nature of Hester Leggett, he also allows for moments of her more joyous and comedic personality to shine through, such as during any discussions about complicated stamps. In a complete contrast to Hester Legget, in this role, George Jennings also plays Bernard Spilsbury and Willie Watkins. Both of these characters are perfectly brought to life to leave the audience in stitches, and George Jennings' commitment to the characterisation of all the roles he played to make them unique in their own ways is a true testament to his skill as an actor and as a cover at Operation Mincemeat.
Jean Leslie was encapsulated by the wonderful Roshani Abbey, who brings an infectious energy to the role. Her All The Ladies left me in absolute awe, especially her riffs, which were phenomenal. The energy that she brought to this song, without missing a beat whilst singing, was exceptional, and I cannot wait to see her in this role again in the future. Her voice is sensational, and I adored getting to hear her vocal talent shine, especially during All The Ladies and Useful, but you could hear the power of her voice throughout, such as at the end of Making a Man. Roshani Abbey brings a maturity to Jean that shows her growth from the naive new recruit at the start of All The Ladies to the hopeful, if not sometimes shocked by the actions of Montagu, Jean that is seen in Act 2. This maturity allows Roshani Abbey’s Jean to go on a similar journey of growth and development as the show proceeds to that of Peter McGovern’s Charlie. When Montagu flips of Jean as the situation worsens we see her Jean less so feel knocked down but more so seem shocked at the behavior of Montagu, this is a fabulous choice by Roshani Abbey to remind the audience of the reality of the situation for women working in MI5 as we see Jean reminded that Montagu holds all the cards and as she let her guard down and trusted him it was sadly turned on her when she dared to question his choices. She focused on the impact of the line about fascists knocking down the door, and I adored how she uses this moment of power to cut through the comedy of the show and remind people of the truth of the situation and the importance of standing for what you believe in. She is perfect for the role of Jean Leslie, and her ability to lean into the comedy of the show whilst consistently highlighting the position of Jean in MI5 allows the audience to be more drawn into the journey of Jean Leslie.
This show really is sensational, and if you are able to catch it on the West End, Broadway or on the World Tour, then I urge you to do so as you will not be disappointed!
Content Warnings:
The theatre has warnings on display, which are as follows:
Haze and Flashing Lights throughout the performance
Watching this show was not triggering for me; however, I did note some content that may prove upsetting to some, which is as follows:
The show alludes to the death of a loved one at war, especially during Dear Bill
The show does mention dying without anyone to remember you, which could be upsetting, but this was well-handled in my opinion and makes the ending all the more beautiful
Bright Lights
Haze
The show can be loud at times
Thank you for taking the time to read, and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)
- AnxiousTheatregoer
