The West End premiere of John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, comes to @sohoplace.
Adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge (Festen). This is the first novel by the undisputed master of the modern spy genre to be brought to life on stage.
Jeremy Herrin will direct following his recent acclaimed productions of People, Places and Things and Long Day’s Journey into Night.
Following its 2024 sold out premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre The Spy Who Came In From The Cold will run @sohoplace from 17 November 2025 – 21 February 2026.
Rory Keenan (Somewhere Boy, The Regime) and Screen International Star of Tomorrow Agnes O’Casey (Lies We Tell, Black Doves) reprise their critically acclaimed roles as 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) also return as George Smiley and Hans-Dieter Mundt. Completing the cast are original performers Philip Arditti (Breathtaking, No Return) as Fielder, Norma Atallah as Miss Crail/President of the Tribunal, Matt Betteridge (Ulster American, Slow Horses) as Riemeck/Kiever, Ian Drysdale (Firebrand, Ross) as Control, Tom Kanji (Richard My Richard, The Box of Delights) as Ashe and David Rubin (Grantchester, Finding My Voice) as Pitt/Ford.
British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is weary, hardened, and ready to come in from the cold. But when spymaster George Smiley 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.
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, is designed by Max Jones with lighting design by Azusa Ono, composition by Paul Englishby, sound design by Elizabeth Purnell, movement direction by Lucy Cullingford, fight direction by Bret Yount, and voice by Hazel Holder. Completing the creative team is Casting Director Jessica Ronane CDG.
Tickets to The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
Additional information about The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
Booking until
17 November 2025 – 21 February 2026
Show Times
Running Time
2hours 10mins, including an interval
Theatre
@sohoplace
Age Recommendation
TBC
Access Performances
BSL interpreted: Friday 23rd January 2026 at 7.30pm
Captioned performance: Wednesday 4th February 2026 7.30pm
Audio Described performance: Thursday 12th February 2026 @ 7.30pm
