The award-winning smash hit musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT has been made available to young people for the first time… and Leeds Youth Musical will be one of the first companies in the world to perform this Expanded Cast version! The project runs Sun 4 to Sat 10 April 2027 at Yeadon Town Hall.
OPERATION MINCEMEAT is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the secret mission that helped us win World War 2. The year is 1943 and things don’t look good! MI5 is about to gamble everything on one man. The trouble is… he’s already dead!
Featuring hilarious songs, outrageous characters and more than one briefcase, OPERATION MINCEMEAT took the West End and Broadway by storm… and now it’s coming to Yeadon Town Hall in April 2027. Could you be a part of this amazing show?
This amateur production of OPERATION MINCEMEAT: THE EXPANDED CAST is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Places on this project are by AUDITION ONLY! Anyone aged 11 to 19 can come along on Sunday 17 January 2027. The audition day will run from 9.30am to 4.30pm at Guiseley Theatre. Expect to sing, dance and act! Experience is NOT essential. Full details of audition materials will be available soon. Auditions slots are limited so SIGN UP NOW!
LYM’s OPERATION MINCEMEAT project will run at Yeadon Town Hall from Sun 4 April to Sat 10 April (times tbc). The project will see 50 young people work with a professional creative team to create a full musical. There will also be extra rehearsals on Sun 14, 21 and 28 March.
For more details, see below.
There will be two fully staged performances of OPERATION MINCEMEAT: THE EXPANDED CAST at Yeadon Town Hall on Saturday 10 April 2027 (2.30pm and 7pm). Tickets will be available soon.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT will be co-directed by LYM's choreographer and co-founder, Meg Elsegood. Meg originates from Bradford and began her training as a child with the Wakefield Performance Academy. Meg graduated from D&B College of Performing Arts in 2019. Her Credits include: Odd Squad (CBBC), Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Dick Whittington,
OPERATION MINCEMEAT will be co-directed by LYM's choreographer and co-founder, Meg Elsegood. Meg originates from Bradford and began her training as a child with the Wakefield Performance Academy. Meg graduated from D&B College of Performing Arts in 2019. Her Credits include: Odd Squad (CBBC), Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Dick Whittington, Beauty & The Beast (all at Theatre Royal Wakefield), The Only Way Out (Workshop), Children in Need (BBC Eastenders), Peter Pan (Wicked Productions) to name a few.
Alongside her performing career, Meg has directed and choreographed multiple projects of her own with her most recent credits including: Anything Goes (Yeadon Town Hall), Sister Act (Yeadon Town Hall), Les Miserables (Bradford Playhouse) and many more.
Meg’s passion for the arts grew by taking part in productions like Leeds Youth Musical’s as a child. She is thrilled that LYM has grown so quickly and to have the opportunity to create some real theatrical magic! Meg will have us all step-ball-changing down the aisles in no time!

LYM's director and co-founder Chris Chilton will be co-directing OPERATION MINCEMEAT. Chris trained at LAMDA and has worked in the arts for 30 years. Theatre credits include the Orange Tree Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, Royal Exchange Manchester, Sheffield Theatres, the West End, Shakespeare's Rose, RSC, English Touring Theatre, Birmingham Re
LYM's director and co-founder Chris Chilton will be co-directing OPERATION MINCEMEAT. Chris trained at LAMDA and has worked in the arts for 30 years. Theatre credits include the Orange Tree Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, Royal Exchange Manchester, Sheffield Theatres, the West End, Shakespeare's Rose, RSC, English Touring Theatre, Birmingham Rep, Theatre Royal Bath, and many more. Chris is also a panto regular at the Theatre Royal Wakefield, where he has appeared in the last EIGHT Christmas shows, most recently Jack and the Beanstalk.
TV credits include Anne Rice’s Talamasca, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, Casualty, Doctors, Heartbeat, The Damned United and many more.
Chris has directed award-winning musicals with young people all over the UK. Shows include Aladdin, Elf, Matilda, Mary Poppins, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray, School of Rock, The Lion King and many more. Chris also teaches at drama schools across West Yorkshire, and has also run workshops for the RSC, Shakespeare Schools Festival, Southwark Playhouse, Harrogate Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Theatre Royal Wakefield, LBT Huddersfield.

LYM's Musical Director for OPERATION MINCEMEAT is Marie Collins. Marie trained in Voice and Acting at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has worked as Musical Director with many groups throughout Yorkshire., most recently with Futurist Theatre Company on Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and The Christmas Spectacular at Yeadon Town Hall. Oth
LYM's Musical Director for OPERATION MINCEMEAT is Marie Collins. Marie trained in Voice and Acting at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has worked as Musical Director with many groups throughout Yorkshire., most recently with Futurist Theatre Company on Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and The Christmas Spectacular at Yeadon Town Hall. Other shows include Cats, Oliver, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Betty Blue Eyes, La Cage Aux Folles, The Wiz, The Producers and many more.
She is founder and director of The VivaVox Choir in Kippax and head of singing at Damien Poole Theatre Arts in Harrogate & Guiseley. Marie also runs her own singing teaching studio in Leeds, specialising in Musical Theatre coaching & Estill Voice Training.
Marie also enjoys a busy performing career. Her professional acting credits include, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s one woman musical, Tell Me On A Sunday for Endillion Theatre Company, Arcadia (Endillion Theatre Company), Blitz Bride – The Musical (UK Tour), Just Like Anthea (UK Tour), Chess In Concert (Royal Albert Hall), Girls Night (No.1 National Tour). Locally, she can regularly be seen performing at Yeadon Town Hall in the Town Hall dinner shows and Stage Door Café.
This year, LYM is running two Easter projects. Week one (4 to 10 April 27) is OPERATION MINCEMEAT: THE EXPANDED CAST (for 11 to 19 year olds, places by audition only) and Week Two (12 to 15 April 27) is DISNEY’S ALADDIN KIDS (for 8 to 13 year olds, open to all, NO audition necessary). Both projects will take place at Yeadon Town Hall, High Street, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7PP.
As a guide, rehearsal days will run 9am to 5pm (TBC). Performance days may vary.
Simple! LYM is growing! And to keep the experience special for the young people involved, we wanted to pick shows that are more suited to certain age groups. It also means we can have slightly smaller cast sizes!
Places on OPERATION MINCEMEAT: THE EXPANDED CAST project are by audition only. But if you are aged 11 to 19 years old, anyone can book an audition slot! The auditions will be held on Sunday 17 January 2027 from 9.30am to 4.30pm at Guiseley Theatre). Book a slot HERE!
The DISNEY’S ALADDIN KIDS project is open to anyone aged 8 to 13 years old. Places (which are limited) are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Book your place HERE!
LYM is committed to making great shows with young people… but our number one priority is to offer young people a safe, creative environment in which to discover themselves and the joy of performing.
Of course! Not everyone wants to be the star! For OPERATION MINCEMEAT, all performers will be able to specify at the auditions if they want to be considered for a PRINCIPAL or ENSEMBLE role. For DISNEY’S ALADDIN KIDS, there will be plenty for everyone, regardless of experience.
All we ask is that everyone comes along with a positive attitude, works hard and has lots of fun!
Yes! If you sign up, we will ask students to commit to the full project.
Are you crazy? That’s a lot of musical theatre! But in theory, yes! Students who meet the criteria of the projects (age range/auditions etc) are welcome to take part in both… BUT it will be a very demanding two weeks!
Yes! It’s a BIG show! So LYM plan to have a few extra rehearsals to get the cast ready for the big week.
These will be held on Sun 14, 21 and 28 March 2027. (Venue tbc)
The cost of the OPERATION MINCEMEAT project is £185. The cost of the DISNEY’S ALADDIN KIDS project is £155..
The prices vary due to length of project, creative team requirements and production costs.
LYM works very hard to strike a balance between keeping projects affordable while still creating unique, exciting projects for the young people involved.
LYM participants get EXCELLENT value for money. The projects (which use the beautiful facilities at Yeadon Town Hall) offer full time dance, singing and drama training with a professional, committed team. Students also get the chance to perform in a fully staged and costumed show, with full light and sound support, to an always appreciative audience. It’s a wonderful experience and LYM is very proud of the feedback it has received.
Friendships are formed, memories are made… and we’ll throw in a show t-shirt for free!
Just hit the BOOK A PLACE button on this website and we'll take it from there! Once a place has been confirmed, payment can be made to LYM by bank transfer. The fee is non-refundable. (In the unlikely event the project is cancelled, a full refund will be offered).
If the projects are full, LYM operate a waiting list. Should you no longer be available to take part and we can fill your spot from the waiting list, LYM will offer a refund.
Yes, absolutely! LYM puts safeguarding at the very heart of its approach and always puts the well-being of young people first. Each project is fully risk-assessed with extensive procedures in place to ensure a secure environment, all LYM tutors have enhanced DBS certificates and have undergrone recent child safety training. Also, a qualified first aider will always be on site.
Yes! LYM loves a public performance!
OPERATION MINCEMEAT: THE EXPANDED CAST will be performed on Sat 10 April at 2.30pm and 7pm.
DISNEY’S ALADDIN KIDS will be performed on Thurs 15 April at 6pm.
Both projects will be performed at Yeadon Town Hall. Tickets available soon.
Check out this great video
Leeds Youth Musical

Tickets for LYM’s October project - RAISE YOUR VOICE at Yeadon Town Hall on Thursday 29 October are on sale NOW!