The Ink Factory and Second Half Productions have announced lead casting for the extensive UK tour of John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Ralf Little (Death in Paradise, God of Carnage, The Royle Family) will take on the role of disillusioned British intelligence officer Alec Leamas in the Chichester Festival Theatre production. The tour opens at Leicester Curve on 12 March 2026 and runs through to August 2026, including performances at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tue 14 – Sat 18 Jul 2026, with tickets available via ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes.
Olivier Award-nominated British actor Ralf Little is best known for his role as Antony Royle in the BBC’s BAFTA-winning comedy The Royle Family, alongside Caroline Aherne, as well as playing Jonny in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps with Sheridan Smith and Will Mellor. In 2024, Ralf completed his run as lead detective in the BBC’s much-loved Death in Paradise, which achieved its highest audience figures during his tenure. He is also set to reunite with Two Pints castmate Will Mellor for part two of the second series of factual show Will & Ralf Should Know Better on U and U&Dave in 2026. The hit series will see them continue to explore “how they can do life better as two middle-aged men in their 40s”.
Ralf’s theatre credits include White Rabbit Red Rabbit (Lambert Jackson Ltd), God Of Carnage (Theatre Royal Bath), Ugly Lies The Bone (National Theatre), Dead Funny (Vaudeville Theatre), A Day in The Death of Joe Egg (Liverpool Playhouse), On The Ceiling (The Ripley Duggan), Billy Liar (ATG), Notes On Falling Leaves (Royal Court) and Presence (Royal Court), for which he received an Olivier Award nomination.
Ralf Little said:
"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. I first read The Spy Who Came in From the Cold when I was 16, and it has stayed with me ever since. Reading David Eldridge's brilliant script, I once again found myself drawn into the story's unexpected twists and turns, its high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between East and West, which David has captured so thrillingly in the play. Despite being written in the 60s, it feels startlingly relevant to the times we are living in now. I can't wait to share this story with audiences old and new as we take it to cities right across the UK."
Further casting for the touring production will be announced shortly.
Adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge (Festen, End), this production marks the first novel by le Carré — the undisputed master of the modern spy genre and author of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Night Manager — to be brought to the stage. The production is directed by Jeremy Herrin (Grace Pervades, People, Places and Things, Long Day’s Journey into Night), with Joe Lichtenstein as Tour Director.
Following its sold-out premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2024, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold received its West End premiere at @sohoplace in November 2025, with its final West End performance scheduled for 21 February 2026.
British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is weary, hardened and ready to come in from the cold. But when spymaster George Smiley offers one final mission — dangerous, deceptive and deeply personal — Leamas agrees to stay in the game. Sent into enemy territory, his convictions are tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian whose compassion threatens to thaw his frostbitten heart.
A global bestseller for more than six decades and named one of TIME Magazine’s All-Time 100 Novels, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is a gripping journey through the fog-laden world of Cold War espionage, deception and moral compromise.
The production is designed by Max Jones, with lighting design by Azusa Ono, sound design by Elizabeth Purnell, composition by Paul Englishby and movement direction by Lucy Cullingford. General management is by Second Half Productions, with Melting Pot serving as Executive Producer for the UK tour.
The Chichester Festival Theatre production of John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is produced by The Ink Factory and Second Half Productions.
Performances run at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tue 14 – Sat 18 Jul.
