A TV star is set to take to the stage in a new stage adaptation of a classic Cold War thriller.
Ralf Little, known for his roles in Death in Paradise and The Royle Family, will play British intelligence officer Alec Leamas in a UK tour of John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.
The Chichester Festival Theatre production will come to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal from May 26 to 30, as part of an extensive UK tour.
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Reflecting on his role, Ralf 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."
Marking the first of le Carré's novels to be adapted for the stage, the play has been written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge, whose previous works include Festen and End.
It tells the story of Alec Leamas, the weary intelligence officer at the heart of the story, who is drawn into one final, deeply personal mission by spymaster George Smiley.
Dispatched behind the Iron Curtain, Leamas is forced to confront his own beliefs and emotional defences, which are challenged by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian whose compassion begins to thaw his hardened exterior.
The production is directed by Jeremy Herrin, with Joe Lichtenstein serving as tour director.
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Following its sold-out premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2024, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold received its West End premiere in November 2025, with its final performance set to take place on February 21.
The production is designed by Max Jones, with lighting by Azusa Ono, sound by Elizabeth Purnell, music by Paul Englishby, and movement direction by Lucy Cullingford.
It is produced by The Ink Factory and Second Half Productions.
General management for the UK tour is provided by Second Half Productions, with Melting Pot as executive producer.
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