David Eldridge and director Jeremy Herrin bring John le Carre’s 1963 masterpiece The Spy Who Came In From The Cold to the stage, which began its six month tour in March 2026.

Ralph Little takes on the role of Alec Leamas in the currently touring production of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. Leamus has been working in Berlin for too long during the Cold War. As a spy, he knows only two well that not everyone is who you think they are and it is dangerous to get too close to anyone.

However, when Leamas finally returns to England, he is called on to do one more job, although it requires him to take on a mundane job. Here we are introduced to Gráinne Dromgoole jn the role of librarian Liz Gold. He seems unlikely to fit into the library role, but the two strike up a romantic relationship.

Gold soon turns out not to be the quiet librarian. Her links to the communist party come into question. Little and Dromgoole have a strong rapport on stage and offer a believable romantic couple. The lure of happy ever after entices Leamas to return to East Germany and tidy up some loose ends.

Personally, I haven’t read or seen this story before. This meant that the detailed introduction that Leamus makes at the start of the play made it easier to follow the characters. Although with the spying network, you never quite know who is on which side.

However, I have heard about the famous, well-loved Le Carre character George Smiley (Tony Turner), who appears throughout the play. Mainly, in the role of an observer watching over Leamus’s moves across the different  countries.

Staging is simple and effective, allowing the audience to immerse themselves into the plot and characters without distractions. In the fast changing world of spies, there wouldn’t be much need for many personal possessions.

For more information about The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and future productions at New Victoria Theatre Woking, please use the link below.

Four Stars.

Photo credit: Johan Persson

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold/new-victoria-theatre/

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold/