Theatre
Review
Review: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
The John Le Carre classic is lovingly translated for stage at sohoplace
It’s hard to overstate the impact of John Le Carre on the modern spy story, and as such, many of the elements of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold will be familiar to audiences, even those who have never read the original novel nor seen the 1965 film. Jeremy Herrin’s stage version at sohoplace isn’t interested in shying away from what made John Le Carre’s espionage drama so appealing to readers and viewers at the time – it’s an adaptation done in good faith, celebrating the classic story and inviting audiences to meet them in the 60s, rather than trying to fit the story into a 2025 mould.
What we get is a nostalgic spy story, slick and straight-talking, with a delightfully 60s hero. Alec Leamas is a whiskey-sipping, chain-smoking agent of the ‘Circus’, mourning the death of his operative and ready to come home after his years in Berlin. However, when his Etonian bosses (excellently played by Ian Drysdale and John Ramm) convince him to put it all on the line for one last mission, Leamas transforms himself into a man going off the rails in preparation to lay a trap for the deadly Mundt. Along the way, he becomes entangled with the winning Agnes O’Casey as Liz Gold, a Communist librarian who’s willing to wait until he finally does come in from the cold.
It starts gritty and ends grittier, but there’s a cosy charm in that, in much the same way that few murders in an Agatha Christie are actually scary. It’s well positioned as a winter production, a good old-fashioned tale of espionage to get lost in whilst the winds howl outside. Rory Keenan is brilliant as Leamas: tired, world-weary and entirely absent from the lives of his children, but also undeniably cool, a combination that only a character from a 60s spy classic can pull off. The unique performance space that sohoplace provides makes it all the more immersive, and a minimalistic set, lighting and sound design elevate key story beats whilst wisely letting the capable cast and David Elridge’s smooth script do most of the heavy lifting. There are elements that have modern relevancy – the classism present in government agencies and the extent to which, when it comes to protecting a nation, the ends justify the means – but ultimately The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is a nostalgic treat. Best enjoyed with a whiskey.
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is now playing at sohoplace until 21 February – find tickets here
