Ralf Little to star in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold on tour

Star casting has been announced for the forthcoming UK tour of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Ralf Little (Death in Paradise, God of Carnage, The Royle Family) is set to play British intelligence officer Alec Leamas in the show.

Further tour casting is to be announced.

What is the story? Set at the height of the Cold War, disillusioned British spy Alec Leamas is persuaded by George Smiley, the head of MI6 – aka ‘The Circus’, to undertake one last mission against the leader of the East German Secret Service.

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is the first ever John le Carré novel to be adapted for the stage. The production is adapted by David Eldridge and directed by Jeremy Herrin.

The London production of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold now playing at @SohoPlace until 21 February 2026.

Photo by Michael Wharley

“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… 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

UK Tour dates 2026

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold tour opens at the Curve Leicester on 12 March 2026
The play then visits Leicester, Malvern, Bromley, Woking, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sheffield, Liverpool, London Richmond, Glasgow, Brighton, York, Norwich, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle, Milton Keynes, Salford, Cambridge, and Bath
Booking: Find tickets here for dates in Woking (31 March-4 April 2026), Richmond (19-23 May 2026), Glasgow (26-30 May 2026), Brighton (2-6 June 2026), York (9-13 June 2026), Birmingham (30 June-4 July 2026), Milton Keynes (14-18 July 2026)

Two men. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Rory Keenan and Mat Betteridge. Photo by Johan Persson

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold in the West End. Rory Keenan and Mat Betteridge. Photo by Johan Persson

See more photos of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold in the West End >

The London production

Theatre: @SohoPlace Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London
Booking until: 21 February 2026
Performance schedule: Monday to Saturday evenings and Thursday & Saturday matinees
Running time: 2 hours and 10 minutes (including interval)
Age range: Recommended for ages 12+
Stars: Rory Keenan as Alec Leamas, Agnes O’Cassey as Liz Gold, Gunnar Cauthery as Hans-Dieter Mundt, and John Ramm as George Smiley
View tickets for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold in London