Ralf Little Takes on Iconic Spy Alec Leamas in UK Tour of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

THE SPY NOVEL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. NOW LIVE ON STAGE.

For the first time ever, a novel by John le Carré, the undisputed master of the modern spy genre whose works include TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and THE NIGHT MANAGER, is brought to life in a thrilling stage adaptation.

Starring Ralf Little (THE ROYLE FAMILY, DEATH IN PARADISE), THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is a riveting journey through the fog-shrouded terrain of Cold War espionage, deception, and moral compromise.

British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is weary, hardened, and ready to come in from the cold. But when Control, the Chief of the Circus, presents one final mission, dangerous, deceptive, and deeply personal, Leamas agrees to stay in the game. Dispatched into enemy territory, he finds his convictions tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian whose compassion threatens to thaw his frostbitten heart. And what of veteran spymaster George Smiley? What is his role in the operation?

Following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre and a hit West End premiere, this gripping new play written by David Eldridge (BEGINNING, MIDDLE) and directed by Jeremy Herrin (A MIRROR, PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS).

Age guidance: 12+
Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes (including 20 minute interval)
Show warnings: This production contains strong and derogatory language prevalent in the period, including antisemitism, and depictions of violence including torture and gunshots.

#TheSpyWhoCameInFromTheCold

Ralf Little said: “It is a huge privilege to be stepping into the shoes of one of John le Carré’s great literary creations, Alec Leamas as we bring the murky world of his Cold War masterpiece to life on stage. I first read The Spy Who Came in From the Cold when I was 16 and it has stayed with me ever since. Reading David Eldridge’s brilliant script, I once again found myself drawn into the story’s unexpected twists and turns, its high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between East and West, which David has captured so thrillingly in the play. Despite being written in the 60s it feels startlingly relevant to the times we are living in now. I can’t wait to share this story with audiences old and new as we take it to cities right across the UK.”

Ralf Little said: “It is a huge privilege to be stepping into the shoes of one of John le Carré’s great literary creations, Alec Leamas as we bring the murky world of his Cold War masterpiece to life on stage. I first read The Spy Who Came in From the Cold when I was 16 and it has stayed with me ever since. Reading David Eldridge’s brilliant script, I once again found myself drawn into the story’s unexpected twists and turns, its high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between East and West, which David has captured so thrillingly in the play. Despite being written in the 60s it feels startlingly relevant to the times we are living in now. I can’t wait to share this story with audiences old and new as we take it to cities right across the UK.”

UK Tour Dates The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Leicester Curve Theatre 12 – 14 March 2026 BOOK TODAY

Malvern Theatres 18 – 21 March 2026 BOOK TODAY

Churchill Theatre Bromley 24 – 28 March 2026 BOOK TODAY

New Victoria Theatre, Woking 31 March – 4 April 2026 BOOK TODAY

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham 14 – 18 April 2026 BOOK TODAY

Edinburgh Festival Theatre 21 – 25 April 2026 BOOK TODAY

Wales Millennium Centre 28 April – 2 May 2026 BOOK TODAY

Sheffield Lyceum 5 – 9 May 2026 BOOK TODAY

Liverpool Playhouse 12 – 16 May 2026 BOOK TODAY

Richmond Theatre 19 – 23 May 2026 BOOK TODAY

Glasgow Theatre Royal 26 – 30 May 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Theatre Royal Brighton 2 –  6 June 2026 BOOK TICKETS

York Grand Opera House 9 – 13 June 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Norwich Theatre Royal 16 – 20 June 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Nottingham Theatre Royal 23 – 27 June 2026 BOOK TICKETS

The Alexandra, Birmingham 30 June – 4 July 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Newcastle Theatre Royal 7 – 11 July 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Milton Keynes Theatre 14 – 18 July 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Lowry, Salford 23 – 15 July 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Cambridge Arts 28 July – 1 August 2026 BOOK TICKETS

Bath Theatre Royal 11 – 22 August 2026 BOOK TICKETS