The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

If you’re looking ahead to summer plans, mark your calendar for June. The stage adaptation of John le Carré's classic Cold War novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, is heading to the Theatre Royal Brighton. This is actually a bit of a milestone, as it’s the first time one of Le Carré's works has been adapted for the stage. The production, which has already had successful runs elsewhere, will be in Brighton from Tuesday 2 June to Saturday 6 June 2026.

The lead role of the weary British intelligence officer, Alec Leamas, is being played by Ralf Little, who many will recognize from Death in Paradise and The Royle Family. The adaptation itself was handled by David Eldridge and is directed by the Olivier Award winner Jeremy Herrin. The story follows Leamas, who is ready to retire but accepts one final, dangerous mission orchestrated by George Smiley. His convictions are tested when he meets Liz Gold, a librarian whose compassion threatens to derail his carefully constructed world. Ralf Little commented that the script captures the high-stakes game of cat and mouse between East and West "excitingly," noting that the 1960s story feels "surprisingly relevant" now.

If you plan on catching a performance, the schedule includes evening shows Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM, plus matinees on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons at 2:30 PM. The total running time is around 2 hours and 15 minutes, including an interval. Just a heads up on content: the production is recommended for ages 12 and up, and it does contain strong language (including antisemitism) and depictions of violence, specifically torture and shootings. If you decide to go, tickets are already available, with prices starting from £15.