Norwich Theatre Royal is in for a week of espionage as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold arrives!
Based off the best-selling novel by John Le Carrè, the play is on a UK tour after a sold out run at the Chichester Festival Theatre and a successful West End premiere. It’s directed by Jeremy Herrin and written by David Eldridge, and follows Alec Leamas, an experienced and hardened spy, who considers hanging up the magnifying glass. However, a new mission brings him back into the action.
The set is minimalistic, with a carpet depicting the make up of Germany in the early 60s, setting the era we’re in. This allowed the focus to remain on the characters and plot. The atmosphere in the show works well and the story sparked curiosity, with the relationship between Leamas and Control being the most interesting early on, though the story felt a bit uneven tonally at times.
The ensemble mostly consisted of bystanders flitting in and out of scenes in typical trenchcoat spy costumes, which added to the atmosphere and the humour. Tony Turner portrays George Smiley and is impactful when he appears, mostly in Alec Leamas’ head. Nicholas Murchie portrays Control, Leamas’ handler and serves as a figure of frustration for Leamas, intentionally keeping his cards close to his chest.
Gráinne Dromgoole plays Liz Gold, Leamas’ love interest and her story has the audience asking some questions about her motivations. Ralf Little plays Alec Leamas, the central spy, and he adds a mix of grit and dry humour to proceedings. He had good chemistry with other cast members throughout and you felt Leamas’ frustration at not being kept in the know.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a solid espionage tale overall, and plays at Norwich Theatre Royal until 20 June. Book your tickets now!
Chris
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