Concord Theatricals has released Operation Mincemeat for performance by under-19 companies across the UK and Eire, in a full-length edition scaled for casts of between 13 and 87.
Concord Theatricals has licensed Operation Mincemeat for performance by young companies across the UK and Eire. Operation Mincemeat: The Expanded Cast is a full-length adaptation of the West End and Broadway musical, carrying more than 100 characters and playable by companies of between 13 and 87 performers, all aged under 19.
The arithmetic is the news. School and youth licensing ordinarily asks a company to double and treble parts to fit a small cast list; this edition does the reverse, widening the show until a full year group can be put on stage without cutting the piece down.
Writers David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts said: “One of the questions we get asked the most is ‘will there ever be a school’s version of Operation Mincemeat.’ Well, now we’re thrilled to say that our new expanded cast version of the show is available for young agents across the UK & Eire. There’s a character for every kid in the class, great opportunities for theatricality and physical storytelling, and most importantly, plenty of space to let young performers be complete and utter idiots. We can’t wait to see this brilliant (and educational!) story in their hands.”
Set in 1943, the musical tells the true story of the intelligence operation that used a corpse and a briefcase of forged papers to mislead Hitler about the Allied invasion of Sicily. It opened at the 77-seat New Diorama Theatre in 2019, which commissioned it with co-commissioning support from The Lowry, and reached the West End on 9 May 2023. It has since been nominated for 68 awards and won 24, taking Best Musical at the Olivier Awards, the WhatsOnStage Awards, the BroadwayWorld Theater Fans’ Choice Awards and the Off West End Awards.
“The release of the expanded cast edition of Operation Mincemeat to young performers marks a truly exciting milestone—one that has been eagerly awaited and that we are delighted to celebrate,” said Vivien Goodwin, SVP Concord Theatricals, Europe. “From a homegrown British fringe show to one that conquered the West End and Broadway, it’s thrilling to watch Operation Mincemeat continue to grow its global reach as young people get the opportunity to reveal their ingenuity and teamwork on this remarkable musical celebrating one of the most audacious and inventive intelligence operations of World War II.”
Producer Jon Thoday for Avalon said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be partnering with Concord Theatricals to bring Operation Mincemeat to a whole new generation of young performers. From its beginnings in a 77-seat theatre to the West End, Broadway and now stages around the world, the show’s journey has been extraordinary. We can’t wait to see them embrace the show and become part of its continuing story.”
The licence arrives with all three professional productions still running. The West End company has announced a 19th extension and now books through to Saturday 29 May 2027, a fifth year at the theatre; the Broadway staging, which opened at the John Golden Theatre on 20 March 2025 and was nominated for four Tony Awards, has confirmed a ninth extension to Sunday 14 February 2027; and the world tour is playing four continents, with dates in the UK, North America, Australia, China, Mexico and New Zealand.
The show is written by SpitLip – David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts – and directed by Robert Hastie, Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre. It is produced in the West End, on Broadway and on tour by Avalon, in association with SpitLip.
Licence applications for the expanded-cast edition are open now through Concord Theatricals. Operation Mincemeat runs at the Fortune Theatre in the West End, with tickets on sale now for performances to Saturday 29 May 2027.
