Cold War paranoia, double-crosses and moral grey zones: John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold heads to Theatre Royal Nottingham this June as part of a major UK tour.
Following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre and a hit West End transfer, this stage adaptation — from Festen playwright David Eldridge — brings le Carré’s iconic espionage thriller vividly to life. Director Jeremy Herrin returns to helm the production, joined by tour director Joe Lichtenstein.
Taking centre stage is Ralf Little (Death in Paradise, The Royle Family) as burnt-out British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, opposite Gráinne Dromgoole as quietly resolute librarian Liz Gold — the woman who may prove his greatest vulnerability. They’re joined by Tony Turner as spymaster George Smiley, with Nicholas Murchie as Control and Peter Losasso as the chilling Hans-Dieter Mundt.
The supporting cast features Eddie Toll, Melody Chikakane Brown, Jeff D’Sangalang and Jonny Burman, alongside Jo Servi, Clara Wessely and James Burman.
The story follows Leamas, a weary operative ready to “come in from the cold” — until one last mission pulls him back into a dangerous web of espionage, deception and shifting loyalties. As the lines between right and wrong blur, and emotion collides with duty, the question becomes: who is really pulling the strings?
First published in 1963 and hailed as one of TIME magazine’s 100 greatest novels, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold remains one of the defining works of the spy genre — stark, cynical and devastatingly human.
With design by Max Jones, lighting by Azusa Ono, sound by Elizabeth Purnell and an original score by Paul Englishby, this taut, stylish production captures the icy tension of le Carré’s world.
Catch it at Theatre Royal Nottingham from Tue 23 to Sat 27 June 2026.
