NEWS - OPERATION MINCEMEAT: THE SMASH-HIT MUSICAL SETS OFF ON GLOBAL TOUR – STARTING AT THE LOWRY IN 2026!

The Origins of Operation Mincemeat

From humble beginnings at a scratch night in Manchester back in 2017 to taking Broadway by storm and sweeping up an Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Operation Mincemeat has become one of the UK’s most unexpected and beloved theatre success stories. Now, in a full-circle moment, this musical comedy sensation will return to where it all began—The Lowry in Salford—as it kicks off an epic 40-week UK tour in February 2026, before heading across the globe.

What’s the Show About?

Based on a scarcely believable true story, Operation Mincemeat tells the tale of the twisted top-secret mission that helped win World War II. It's a fast-paced, gloriously chaotic, and side-splittingly funny musical from the minds of SpitLip—David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts—who also perform in the show’s original cast.

After picking up rave reviews, a loyal fanbase, and more than 65 five-star write-ups, the show is now a West End fixture at the Fortune Theatre and currently dazzling audiences on Broadway at New York's Golden Gate Theatre.

The UK Tour – Cities and Dates

The UK leg of the Operation Mincemeat tour will run for 40 weeks, starting on 16 February 2026 in Salford, and then visiting:

Bath, Wolverhampton, Fareham, Oxford, Bradford, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Chester, Birmingham, Canterbury, Brighton, York, Milton Keynes, Woking, Newcastle, Plymouth, Hull, Northampton, Nottingham, Eastbourne, Aberdeen, Southend-on-Sea, Leeds, Cardiff, Swansea, High Wycombe, Norwich, Dartford, Halifax, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton, and Crawley.

For the full list of dates and venues, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Why This Tour Matters

Not only is this an incredible opportunity to see the show across the country, but it also represents a poetic homecoming. The Lowry was the first venue to support SpitLip’s ambition to turn a quirky wartime tale into a full-fledged musical. That early encouragement helped birth a global phenomenon—and it’s only fitting that the tour begins where it all started.

As SpitLip themselves said:

“Broadway opened the literal world to us... Operation Mincemeat reminds us that in uncertain times, the bonds between allies are more important than ever – and that message feels especially relevant as we consider all the great nations in which our show will now have the opportunity to play.”

World Domination Next!

After the UK tour wraps up in late 2026, Operation Mincemeat is heading abroad. The international tour will include stops in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026, followed by performances in China, Australia, and New Zealand in 2027. Specific cities and dates are yet to be announced—but rest assured, the Mincemeat mission is truly going global.

Creative Team & Accolades

Directed by Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky’s Edge), and choreographed by Jenny Arnold (Jerry Springer: The Opera), the show features:

• Ben Stones (Set & Costume Design)

• Mark Henderson (Lighting)

• Mike Walker (Sound)

• Steve Sidwell (Orchestrations & Vocal Arrangements)

• Joe Bunker (Musical Director)

• Georgie Staight (Associate Director)

• Pearson Casting (Casting Directors)

  
  

In addition to its Olivier Award win, the show has also picked up four Tony Award nominations and a recent Outer Critics Circle Award win for Jak Malone on Broadway.

Casting for the 2026 tour is still to be announced—watch this space!

Where to Book Tickets

🎟️ Tickets go on general sale on 6 June 2025 at 10am. Don't miss your chance to see the show that’s taken the West End, Broadway, and soon the world, by storm – book at operationmincemeat.com/tour.

Full UK Tour Dates

• 16–28 Feb: Lowry, Salford

• 2–14 Mar: Theatre Royal, Bath

• 17–21 Mar: Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

• 23–28 Mar: Fareham Live, Fareham

• 31 Mar–4 Apr: New Theatre, Oxford

• 6–11 Apr: Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

• 13–25 Apr: Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

• 27 Apr–2 May: Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

• 4–9 May: Storyhouse, Chester

• 11–16 May: The Alexandra, Birmingham

• 19–23 May: Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

• 25–30 May: Theatre Royal, Brighton

• 1–6 Jun: Grand Opera House, York

• 8–13 Jun: Milton Keynes Theatre

• 15–20 Jun: New Victoria Theatre, Woking

• 22–27 Jun: Theatre Royal, Newcastle

• 29 Jun–4 Jul: Theatre Royal, Plymouth

• 6–11 Jul: Hull New Theatre

• 13–18 Jul: Royal & Derngate, Northampton

• 20 Jul–1 Aug: Theatre Royal, Nottingham

• 3–8 Aug: Congress Theatre, Eastbourne

• 11–15 Aug: His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

• 31 Aug–5 Sep: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea

• 7–12 Sep: Grand Theatre, Leeds

• 15–19 Sep: New Theatre, Cardiff

• 21–26 Sep: Swansea Grand Theatre

• 28 Sep–3 Oct: Wycombe Swan Theatre

• 5–10 Oct: Norwich Theatre Royal

• 12–17 Oct: Orchard Theatre, Dartford

• 26–31 Oct: Victoria Theatre, Halifax

• 2–7 Nov: Capital Theatres, Edinburgh

• 10–14 Nov: Theatre Royal, Glasgow

• 17–21 Nov: Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

• 23–28 Nov: The Hawth, Crawley

  
  

Mission Accomplished

Whether you’ve already seen Operation Mincemeat in London or are brand new to the mission, this UK and world tour is your chance to join the wildest espionage adventure in musical theatre history. Packed with laughs, heart, and history, this is one secret you won’t want to keep.

🎭 “The twisted true story that’s marching across the globe—Operation Mincemeat is the musical mission of a lifetime!”