Operation Mincemeat posters banned after getting too many five-star reviews
Posters for a West End musical have been banned thanks to its five-star reviews.
Operation Mincemeat is currently playing at the Fortune Theatre, following a successful transfer to the West End from Riverside Studios, Southwark Playhouse, and the New Diorama Theatre.
The contentious poster design emerged after the musical garnered a rapidly growing number of five-star reviews.
Initially, the poster displayed 22 five-star reviews, but this number was scribbled out and updated to show at least 58 glowing reviews.
Transport for London (TfL) rejected the posters, concerned that the design looked too much like graffiti and might encourage vandalism.
The team behind the musical had to redesign the posters after they were deemed non-compliant with TfL’s policy.
According to TfL, the posters were not referred to them directly.
TfL’s advertising policy prohibits adverts featuring graffiti, stating that it “encourages wider acts of vandalism across the transport network”.
An alternative poster was submitted and accepted, and it has been displayed on London’s transport network for the past few months.
A TfL spokesperson explained, “While this campaign was not referred to TfL directly, it was reviewed by our advertising partner and was found not to comply with our policy.”
They added, “Alternative adverts promoting this show are running on our network and we always look to work with brands to ensure their creatives adhere to our advertising policy.”
A spokesperson for the musical commented: It is of course complete nonsense and belittling to the public’s intelligence, who can obviously tell graffiti from printing!”
They continued, “Not to mention inflicting unnecessary and damaging costs on redesigns for a show that, while receiving now 64 five-star reviews, has come from small beginnings and doesn’t have the vast resources of a Hamilton or Book of Mormon at a tiny theatre like the Fortune Theatre.”
Despite the poster controversy, Operation Mincemeat continues to thrive at the Fortune Theatre.
The musical has received widespread acclaim, and the team remains optimistic about its future success.
