David Elridge’s play is the first theatrical adaptation of the classic 1963 John le Carre novel of the same name, although it was made into a 1965 blockbuster movie starring Richard Burton. The story depicts a British spy, Alec Leamus, being sent to East Germany as a fake defector to deliver false information about a powerful East German Intelligence Officer. The book itself was an international best seller and received notable critical acclaim; it has since been selected by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 novels of all time.
The atmospheric stage set was minimal and mainly consisted of tables, chairs and other ancillary items which were moved swiftly between scenes. The exception was a large platform to the rear, used to visualise thought sequences and was an integral part of the final scene. The costumes were similarly understated and equally as effective in communicating the cold world of political espionage without taking centre stage. The use of lighting and music during scene changes was flawless and matched the rhythm of the play.
Ralf Little took the Lead Role of Alec Leamas, a hard-drinking, chain-smoking British spy who, after the murder of his colleague and only friend, Karl Riemek, decides to embark on one final assignment under the tutelage of puppet master in chief, George Smiley.
Due to the complexity of the original story, David Eldridge’s adaptation was always going to be dialogue heavy and loaded with exposition. It was a wise choice to address the latter by placing many of the characters - Smiley in particular - as demons inside Leamas’s head to explain the backstory.
Ralf Little’s portrayal of Leamas began slowly but grew exponentially with the storyline, building into a display of emotional dysfunctionality, exhaustion and occasional hope. A lot was asked of him in this role and he delivered an assured performance. Grainne Dromgoole was effective as love interest Liz Gold, as was Tony Turner’s portrayal of George Smiley.
The plot remains true to the book and is not updated to suit the modern era. The story is a masterclass in espionage and twists and turns like a twisty turny thing, opening up the possibilities of double, triple, or quadruple agents amongst the protagonists. It exposes the murky world of spying and how the ends justify any means, provided you are deemed to be on the right side. Moral justification is sacrosanct if you are protecting the many. There were, however, moments that did not have the impact they could have, in particular during the final scenes. I also thought that, although Little and Dromgoole had chemistry, they landed short in expressing the seismic impact love would ultimately thrust upon them.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a theatrically slick, stylish and tense production. It is entertaining, thought-provoking and shines a light on the moral compass of government and society as a whole.
Production run (The Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield): Tuesday 5th March –Saturday 9th May 2026.
Running Time: around 2 hours, including an interval.
See https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold/dates
Reviewer: Matthew Burgin
On : 5th May 2026
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