The Spy Who Came In From The Cold Review | The Lowry | Manchester
- Frances
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold scratches far beneath the surface to recall the dark realities of the Cold War whilst delivering its modern reframe to the Lowry audience. As agent Alec Leamas is dragged into a British Intelligence (MI6) operation alongside compromised officers and cover-ups that he must unmask.
Ralf Little (Death in Paradise, The Royal Family) takes the lead as the cynical, outsider Leamas, who poses as a defector with a plan to take down East German spymaster, Hans-Dieter Mundt (Peter Losasso). Unfortunately, Leamas soon finds he is a small fish in a big pond, with his own agency using him as bait.
Creator, John le Carré’s flaunts the moral ambiguities and betrayals of our betters at the Circus, bringing to light the psychological warfare coming from both sides of the Iron Curtain. le Carré’s 1963 tale of interrogations and secrets twists his capable characters into pawns; however, David Eldridge’s adaptation and Jeremy Herrin’s direction are fascinating to watch unfold on stage. Created in opposition to James Bond’s undercover capers, le Carré’s authentic agent carries a heavy burden of a double life, which gives Little the spotlight to lose himself in the muddy waters he helps create. Drunkenly moving from back-alley meetings to a librarian assistant with difficulty, Little’s compelling performance keeps you invested in this deceptive man, whose life is always on the line.
The cross-questioning and deception of le Carré’s world of spies is built to keep a tight grip on its audience despite the fact that this solid stage adaptation unfolds with minimal flair. Presenting a divided Europe through the flags, maps and courts, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is high in stakes and low in spectacle. Herrin’s smoky set keeps his characters isolated and overlooks our lead Leamas as he is surveilled by his bosses and rivals. However, Little and Gráinne Dromgoole (Liz Gold) bring serious emotional weight to this production as Leamas finds some solace debating and bonding with his bookish colleague whose communist sentimentality sees her sacrificing herself for the greater good of society. As the roguish Leamas is forced to confront the depths of his situation, this thought-provoking fiction delves into forgotten ideologies of both sides, with backstabbing reveals that showcase intelligence over military might.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold may not be a feel-good thriller, but this absorbing production of the former intelligence officer’s bestselling novel is rooted in the bleak realities of the spy game. Revealing a story that trusts its audience to follow its layered moves and complex characters, for a serious second act payoff. The human cost of victory is presented with shady government officials and their haunting officers who draw you deeper into their world of espionage but if there’s any justice, it won’t be the only la Carré classic we see on stage.
Tickets are available via the Lowry link