There might only be five performers on stage in “Operation Mincemeat,” but behind the scenes, bringing the hit musical to life requires an equally elaborate production.
Ahead of its Australian debut in September 2027, cast member Chlöe Hart – who plays Johnny Bevan, Ian Fleming, Francis Haselden and several other characters – takes Variety Australia behind the scenes of the Olivier and Tony Award-winning musical at London’s Fortune Theatre, revealing that there’s just as much choreography happening backstage as there is on stage.
From lightning-fast costume changes to carefully coordinated prop exchanges, Hart reveals that the show’s frantic pace extends well beyond what audiences see on stage. “Everything’s got such a place to be, and even us during the show, there’s a backstage choreography with it as well,” she explains. “Everyone knows everyone’s backstage traffic, because we have to, you know, we have to do that.”
With just five actors responsible for bringing dozens of characters to life, every movement, costume change and prop placement must be carefully timed. The compact backstage space at the Fortune Theatre leaves little room for error, with designated quick-change areas on either side of the stage and a precise system for moving performers and props between scenes.
Hart says some of the most demanding moments involve switching between characters in a matter of seconds – sometimes even while helping move the set. “There’s another one where I come off here as Haselden and I take off a jacket, hat, tie, and then I push the desk straight back on as Bevan. That’s probably my quickest change,” she says. “And then in the finale, I go from ‘Glitzy Showgirl’ to Haselden to Fleming to Bevan in complete succession.”
The show’s choreography is just as intricate when it comes to its props, particularly during an elaborate briefcase sequence, which requires the entire cast to work in perfect sync. Hart reveals that the production uses several different briefcases, each designed for a specific purpose, including a rubber version that can be thrown, caught and knocked against other props during the routine.
Rehearsing such sequences is no easy task, either, with the cast relying on a specially constructed rehearsal set to replicate the production’s many moving parts. “It’s not something you can rehearse on your own,” Hart says of the briefcase sequence. “So yeah, it’s the trickiest bit but the most satisfying when you get it right.”
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Based on the extraordinary true story of a British deception operation during the Second World War, “Operation Mincemeat” follows a group of intelligence officers who devise an unlikely plan to mislead Nazi Germany using a corpse carrying falsified documents.
Created by British comedy troupe SpitLip, the musical blends historical drama with comedy and an eclectic score. Despite the show’s outrageous humour, Hart says preserving the emotional weight of the true story remains an essential part of the production.
“I think we know we’ve won the show, when at the end we see some people teary,” she says. “Because if you’ve just been hammering them with comedy, comedy, comedy the whole time, they’ve lost the truth of the story completely.”
The production has also developed a devoted following, with fans returning to discover new details in the performances and even creating miniature replicas of the set. Hart laughs that one fan gifted her a fully 3D-printed, magnetised model of the stage, complete with miniature furniture and a Lego version of her character, Johnny Bevan.
With the musical now preparing for its Australian premiere, Hart has some advice for the five local performers who will take on the demanding production. “Just don’t panic,” she says. “Because it does feel like a manic, a manic thing to put on. Just be calm. Trust your team.”
“Operation Mincemeat” opens at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in September 2027, with further Australian dates and cities to be announced. The waitlist for tickets is now open – sign up here.
Variety Australia travelled to London as a guest of the production.