Operation Mincemeat (musical) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Operation Mincemeat
A New Musical
London production poster
Music	David Cumming Felix Hagan Natasha Hodgson Zoë Roberts
Lyrics	David Cumming Felix Hagan Natasha Hodgson Zoë Roberts
Book	David Cumming Felix Hagan Natasha Hodgson Zoë Roberts
Basis	Operation Mincemeat
Productions	2019 New Diorama Theatre 2020 Southwark Playhouse 2021 Southwark Playhouse 2022 Riverside Studios 2023 West End

Operation Mincemeat is a funny musical play created by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts. They are also known as the group SpitLip. This musical tells the amazing true story of Operation Mincemeat, a secret plan used by the British during World War II.

The Musical's Journey

This musical first started in 2019. It was performed at the New Diorama Theatre in London. After that, it played at the Southwark Playhouse several times between 2020 and 2022. It also had shows at Riverside Studios in 2022.

In 2023, Operation Mincemeat moved to the Fortune Theatre in London's famous West End. This is a big step for any musical! It started showing on March 29, 2023. Because so many people wanted to see it, the show kept getting extended.

What the Story Is About

The musical is set in 1943 during World War II. It follows a group of British intelligence officers. They are trying to trick the Nazis.

Act One: The Secret Plan Begins

The story starts with Ewen Montagu, a smart naval officer. He welcomes the audience to MI5, a British spy agency. Here, important people work to help win the war. Colonel Johnny Bevan tells his team they need a clever plan. They want to make the Nazis believe the Allies will attack Sardinia. But the real target is Sicily.

Many officers, including Montagu, offer ideas. But Colonel Bevan thinks they are all boring. Montagu then meets Charles Cholmondeley. Charles is an Air Force officer with a wild idea. His plan is called "Operation Mincemeat." Montagu thinks it's crazy but sees its potential. They decide to work together and present the plan to Bevan.

Meanwhile, a new clerk named Jean Leslie joins the team. She works with Hester Leggett. Jean wants to do more than just office work. She dreams of having an important role like the men. Montagu and Charles finally get to tell Bevan their plan. Charles is a bit clumsy when he explains it. So, Montagu asks Jean to help.

Jean explains the daring idea. MI5 will get a dead body. They will dress it as a British soldier. Then, they will put fake secret documents on the body. These documents will say the Allies are invading Sardinia. The body will be placed where the Nazis will find it. The hope is that the Nazis will believe the fake plans.

Bevan is not sure about the plan. But he agrees it's the best idea he's heard. Jean and Hester are officially brought in to help. Hester also has a secret mission. She needs to watch Montagu. Some people think he is talking to his brother, Ivor, who might be a spy for Russia.

Together, Montagu, Charles, Jean, and Hester create a fake soldier. They call him "Bill Martin." Hester makes fake ID papers for him. Montagu and Jean go out in London to get receipts. This makes it look like Bill had a fun week. Charles buys an engagement ring. This receipt will also be on Bill. Jean even poses as Bill's made-up girlfriend for a photo.

Charles notices Montagu sometimes hides important files. But he doesn't say anything yet. They get a body with help from Bernard Spilsbury. The team worries about using a body without knowing who it is. But Montagu insists it's better if the body is a "nobody."

Bevan is not happy about how much money they spent. But he admits "Bill" looks real. As the plan gets ready, Bevan says Bill needs a letter from his fiancée. Charles and Jean try to write one, but it's not good. Hester then shares her own sad story. She lost someone she loved in World War I. Jean is touched and asks Hester to write the letter. Hester agrees and writes a beautiful letter.

That night, Montagu and Charles take "Bill's" body to Scotland. They load it onto a submarine called HMS Seraph. The submarine crew thinks the sealed container holds weather equipment. Charles is worried about the plan. But Montagu convinces him to celebrate. Charles then sees Montagu briefly meet his brother Ivor. The submarine crew faces enemy attacks. They are nervous about the container's contents. But they follow orders. They place "Bill" in the sea near Spain. They thank him for his service.

Act Two: The Plan Unfolds

The second act starts with the German army showing off. Bevan then tells the audience about a problem with Operation Mincemeat. The team waits for news from Spain. They learn that a different dead American soldier, also named William, has been found. This worries them. They fear it will make Bill's story less believable.

Soon after, they hear Bill's body has also been found. They tell their contact in Spain to make sure the briefcase with the fake plans is taken by the Spanish. The Spanish are already suspicious and want to examine the body.

Meanwhile, Bevan tells the team another problem. The person who helped them get the body, Spilsbury, made a mistake. His methods were not good. Charles and Jean try to keep working. But Montagu seems to give up. He just wants to have fun. Jean reminds him their fun trips were just for the operation. Bevan gets very angry at Montagu. He scolds him for not getting permission to use the body. Montagu then tells Jean she's not important to the operation. He orders her to go back to her old job.

Jean is very upset. She tells Hester she dreamed of being famous if the plan worked. Hester gently tells her that not everyone gets recognized. But their work is still important, whether they lead or just make tea. Jean thanks Hester for helping her. Hester then decides to tell Jean about her suspicions about Montagu's brother. Jean agrees to help investigate.

Charles again sees Montagu hiding files. Montagu talks about how he gets people to trust him. Charles also starts to investigate him. Their contact in Spain is told to hint that the British really want Bill's briefcase back. Hester worries about more missing documents. Bevan tries to keep the real invasion plans for Sicily going.

Eventually, Montagu finds Charles, Jean, and Hester looking through his things. They read his files. They discover he is writing a movie script about Operation Mincemeat. He sees himself as the hero. He was hiding files to save them for his movie. He was talking to his brother, Ivor, who is a filmmaker, to get his opinion on the script. Charles, Jean, and Hester are shocked he wants to make their story into a movie. But they realize Montagu is innocent.

Then, Bevan confirms good news. The hints in Spain worked! Adolf Hitler himself has ordered German troops to move from Sicily to Sardinia. The Allies then invade Sicily easily, with very little fighting. Bevan tells Montagu, Charles, Jean, and Hester that Operation Mincemeat is a huge success! They will get the highest awards.

As the team celebrates, they realize something important. Being in power sometimes lets people do whatever they want. To show this isn't always true, they share what happened next. The Allies, with help from the US Army, win World War II. Ian Fleming goes on to create James Bond. Hester and Bevan start a romance. Jean looks forward to women gaining more rights after the war. Montagu eventually makes his film about Operation Mincemeat. Charles continues to do secret work for MI5.

Bevan finishes telling the story to his bosses. They wonder who the real "Bill Martin" was. The audience learns that thanks to Montagu's records, the man was identified. He was a gardener named Glyndwr Michael. There is a special message in Spain that says he served in World War II as Major William Martin.

Musical Songs

The musical has many songs that help tell the story.

Act 1 Songs

• Born to Lead
• God That's Brilliant
• Dead in the Water
• All the Ladies
• The Pitch
• Making a Man
• Dear Bill
• Sail On, Boys
• Just for Tonight

Act 2 Songs

• Das Übermensch
• Bevan's Update
• The Ballad of Willie Watkins
• Spilsbury Reprise
• Useful
• Act as If
• Did We Do It?
• A Glitzy Finale

Main Characters and Cast

The musical has five actors who play many different characters. Sometimes they even switch genders!

Awards and Recognitions

The musical and its cast have received several awards and nominations.

Real-Life Discoveries

A group of fans, called Minfluencers, were very interested in the musical. They decided to research the real-life Hester Leggett. Not much was known about her. These fans found out her last name was actually spelled Leggat. They discovered she worked for Osbert Sitwell in the 1930s. She also worked for MI5 during World War II and later for the British Council. This shows how much the musical inspired people to learn more about history!