The Spy Who Came In From The Cold comes to Richmond Theatre
Ralf Little leads a stage adaptation of John le Carré’s Cold War novel in a one-week run
A stage adaptation of John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came In From The Cold arrives at Richmond Theatre for a limited run this May.
First published in 1963 and named among Time magazine’s All-Time Greatest 100 Novels, the book remains a defining work of the modern spy genre. Le Carré’s writing continues to shape how espionage is understood on screen and stage, with adaptations including the television series The Night Manager and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy introducing his work to new audiences.
Following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre and a transfer to the West End, the production comes to Richmond as part of a UK tour.
Ralf Little plays Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer drawn into one final assignment. As the operation unfolds, he becomes entangled in a web of deception shaped by Cold War politics. The story moves between espionage, personal loyalty and ideological pressure, where individuals are exposed to the full force of the machinery they serve.
Adapted by David Eldridge and directed by Jeremy Herrin, the production centres on the people inside the system rather than the spectacle around it. It explores how belief, ambition and personal relationships are tested under pressure, and what remains when those structures begin to close in.
For audiences familiar with The Night Manager or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the play offers a chance to see the roots of that world on stage: a colder, more stripped-back vision of espionage where the stakes are personal as well as political.
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond, TW9 1QJ
Tue 19 May – Sat 23 May 2026
Evenings Tue–Sat 7.30pm
Matinees Wed, Thu and Sat 2.30pm
Running time 2 hours 10 minutes including interval
Age guidance 12+. Contains strong and derogatory language and depictions of violence. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets can be booked here
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
