The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, a towering work of twentieth-century fiction, has arrived at the West End for what promises to be the theatrical event of the autumn: a journey through the fog-shrouded terrain of Cold War espionage, deception, and moral compromise.
British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is weary, hardened, and ready to come in from the cold. But when his boss 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.
A global bestseller for over six decades and named one of TIME Magazine's All-Time 100 Novels, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is le Carré at his most incisive - a story of betrayal not only between nations, but within the human soul.
Following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, this West End premiere reunites playwright David Eldridge (Beginning, Middle) and director Jeremy Herrin (A Mirror, People, Places and Things) for a theatrical experience of rare intensity. The production will star Rory Keenan (Somewhere Boy, The Regime) and Screen International Star of Tomorrow Agnes O'Casey (Lies We Tell, Black Doves) playing disillusioned British intelligence officer Alec Leamas and the idealistic, left-wing librarian Liz Gold. John Ramm (King Lear, Wolf Hall/Bring Up The Bodies) and Gunnar Cauthery (Dear England, Mack & Mabel) will take on George Smiley and Hans-Dieter Mundt.
Previews commenced at Soho Place Theatre on 17 November 2025, with the opening night on 26 November. The production will run until 21 February 2026. Don't miss out! Tickets can be purchased via this link.
In an article published in the Guardian, Nick Harkaway, le Carré's son and author of Karla's Choice, 'sees parallels with postwar period', as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold comes to the West End. Read the article here.
Reviews:
'Le Carré's enthralling plot is deftly adapted for the stage by Eldridge, brought to life under Herrin's meticulous direction, creating a captivating examination of betrayal, love and the high stakes nature of Alec's last assignment. With a very well-cast ensemble, it is a tension-filled twisty drama culminating in a nail-biting finish.' Everything Theatre
'This slickly noirish adaptation of John le Carré's classic espionage novel is thoroughly gripping.' TimeOut Worldwide
'The dialogue is strong and, for a complicated plot, the play never gets dangled or overly dense. I felt like I'd got my head around every twist just as the next was being revealed.' City AM
'John le Carré's classic Cold War novel is brought to the stage in thrillingly classic fashion ... Further forthcoming adaptations, and new Smiley novels by his son Nick Harkaway, attest to the endless fascination of [John le Carré's] murky, duplicitous world. This stage adaptation is a worthy addition to the canon.' The Standard
'... one of the many strengths of David Eldridge's fluent adaptation for the stage, which premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre last year and will go out on an extensive tour next spring, is that it emphasises the way in which this period piece is also a piercing play for today. It's a serious examination of the shoddy accommodations of real politick, and their effect on the human heart.' WhatsOnStage
'... this John le Carré thriller is suitably noirish and morally ambiguous.' London Theatre Tickets
'It's an all-round excellently crafted show. Paying homage honourably to original work, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is everything anyone would want in a dark spy thriller: gripping, exciting and very, very clever.' The Upcoming