John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came In From The Cold to tour the UK

Chichester Festival Theatre’s hit production of John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is set to tour in 2026.

The tour follows a West End run at @SohoPlace Theatre in London, for 14 weeks from 17 November 2025 to 21 February 2026.

The tour kicks off at Leicester Curve on the 12 March 2026, and then visits Malvern, Bromley, Woking, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sheffield, Liverpool, London Richmond, Glasgow, Brighton, York, Norwich, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle, Milton Keynes, Salford, Cambridge, and Bath.

Casting for the touring production is to be announced.

The play is the first time that a John le Carré novel has been adapted for the stage, and has been adapted by award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge (Festen, End).

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is once again directed by Jeremy Herrin (Grace Pervades; People, Places and Things; Long Day’s Journey into Night).

John le Carré’s best-selling spy novels include Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Night Manager.

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.

The story centres on British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, who is weary, hardened, and ready to come in from the cold. But when spymaster George Smiley 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.

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, is designed by Max Jones with lighting design by Azusa Ono, sound design by Elizabeth Purnell, composition by Paul Englishby, and movement direction by Lucy Cullingford. General Management is by Second Half Productions with Melting Pot as Executive Producer for the UK Tour.

This Chichester Festival Theatre production is produced by The Ink Factory and Second Half Productions.

Book tickets to The Spy Who Came In From The Cold at @SohoPlace Theatre in London

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold – 2026 UK tour dates

Leicester Curve Theatre
12 – 14 March 2026

Malvern Theatres
18 – 21 March 2026

Churchill Theatre, Bromley
24 – 28 March 2026

New Victoria Theatre, Woking
31 March – 4 April 2026

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
14 – 18 April 2026

Edinburgh Festival Theatre
21 – 25 April 2026

Wales Millennium Centre
28 April – 2 May 2026

Sheffield Lyceum
5 – 9 May 2026

Liverpool Playhouse
12 – 16 May 2026

Richmond Theatre
19 – 23 May 2026

Glasgow Theatre Royal
26 – 30 May 2026

Theatre Royal Brighton
2 – 6 June 2026

York Grand Opera House
9 – 13 June 2026

Norwich Theatre Royal
16 – 20 June 2026

Nottingham Theatre Royal
23 – 27 June 2026

The Alexandra, Birmingham
30 June – 4 July 2026

Newcastle Theatre Royal
7 – 11 July 2026

Milton Keynes Theatre
14 – 18 July 2026

Lowry, Salford
23 – 25 July 2026

Cambridge Arts
28 July – 1 August 2026

Bath Theatre Royal
11 – 22 August 2026

What They Said

Writer David Eldridge said in a statement: “It has been a great privilege adapting John le Carré’s youthful masterpiece for the theatre, and it gives me great pleasure that after the play’s west end run this autumn-winter season, we’re able to share the play with audiences across the UK on tour. Although set in the murky world of the cold war espionage thriller it’s a strikingly relevant story for our times. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold asks us how one can retain one’ s humanity and morality if one must operate with the same impunity and brutality as your enemy to defeat him?”

Director Jeremy Herrin, co-founder of Second Half Productions said: “Rapt full houses in Chichester told us that John le Carré’s hit novel translates meaningfully to the stage and so I am delighted that we are bringing The Spy Who Came In From The Cold to audiences around the UK next year, following the production’s West End premiere at Soho Place this autumn. The high stakes of the Cold War, the moral bankruptcy of both East and West, and the power of love when Alec Leamas eventually finds something worth fighting for, David Eldridge keeps us on the edge of our seats through the twists and turns of this shattering and thrilling ride. I can’t wait for this next chapter.”

Producer Simon Cornwell, co-CEO, and co-founder of The Ink Factory, said: “This first ever adaptation of John le Carré’s novels for the stage has been received with warmth and critical acclaim which is both deeply heartening, and incredibly well deserved given the wonderful work of David and Jeremy. The tension of the story is palpable in a completely new way through this telling of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, unravelling betrayal, humanity, and the nature of truth live in front of audiences – and it’s wonderful to know it will now reach even wider through this national tour.”

Justin Audibert Artistic Director and Kathy Bourne Executive Director of Chichester Festival Theatre said: ‘Following its sell-out run in 2024 at Chichester Festival Theatre, we’re thrilled that Jeremy Herrin’s outstanding production will be seen not only in London but across the UK. As one of the country’s leading regional theatres, we’re keenly aware of the vital role theatres play in their local communities; so for audiences in no less than 21 venues – from Brighton to Glasgow and Bromley to Cardiff – to have the opportunity to see David Eldridge’s gripping stage version of John le Carré’s masterpiece is hugely gratifying.’

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Main photo: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold - Chichester Festival Theatre 2024. John Ramm as George Smiley. Photo by Johan Persson