John le Carré’s ‘The Spy Who Came In From the Cold’ Casts Ralf Little

Ralf Little is ready to tackle the position of disillusioned British intelligence officer Alec Leamas in the U.Okay. tour of John le Carré‘s “The Spy Who Came In From the Cold.”

The manufacturing, a collaboration between The Ink Factory and Second Half Productions, will launch March 12 at Curve Leicester and continue via August, visiting 21 venues across the nation. Additional casting will probably be revealed at a later date.

“It is a huge privilege to be stepping into the shoes of one of John le Carré’s great literary creations, Alec Leamas as we bring the murky world of his Cold War masterpiece to life on stage,” said Little, best identified for his roles in BBC’s “Death in Paradise” and “The Royle Family.” “I first read ‘The Spy Who Came in From the Cold’ when I was 16 and it has stayed with me ever since.”

The stage adaptation marks the first time a le Carré novel has been delivered to the theater. Playwright David Eldridge, whose credit embrace “Festen” and “End,” penned the script, with Jeremy Herrin directing alongside tour director Joe Lichtenstein.

The manufacturing premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2024 before transferring to London’s West End at @sohoplace in November 2025, the place it’s presently playing its final weeks ahead of a Feb. 21 closing. Rory Keenan originated the position of Leamas in each productions.

Published over 60 years in the past, “The Spy Who Came In From the Cold” follows veteran spy Leamas as he undertakes one final harmful mission for spymaster George Smiley. The story explores themes of deception and ethical compromise against the backdrop of Cold War espionage.

Little, who obtained an Olivier Award nomination for his performance in “Presence” at the Royal Court, departed “Death in Paradise” in 2024 after the collection achieved its highest viewers rankings during his tenure as lead detective. His other theater credit embrace “God of Carnage” at Theatre Royal Bath and “Ugly Lies the Bone” at the National Theatre.

The inventive team consists of Max Jones (set design), Azusa Ono (lighting), Elizabeth Purnell (sound), Paul Englishby (composition) and Lucy Cullingford (motion route). Second Half Productions serves as common supervisor, with Melting Pot as government producer for the tour.