Ralf Little in classic spy thriller

Ralf Little stars in this stage adaptation of John Le Carre's classic thriller The Spy Who Came In From the Cold

Olivier award-nominated Ralf Little (Death In Paradise, The Royle Family) leads the cast in John le Carre’s classic thriller The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, at Sheffield Lyceum (May 5-9); Liverpool Playhouse (May 12-16); York Grand Opera House (June 9-13); Theatre Royal Newcastle (July 7-11) and Salford's Lowry (July 22-25).

The adaptation is by award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge (Beginning, Middle, End.

Le Carre's story has weary intelligence officer Alec Leamas ready to come in from the cold after years of dangerous spying. But when Control, Chief of the "Circus" (the British Intelligence Service), presents one final mission - dangerous, deceptive, and deeply personal - Leamas agrees to do it.

Dispatched into enemy territory, he finds his convictions tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian whose compassion threatens to thaw his cold heart... and what of veteran spymaster George Smiley, what is his role in the operation?

Little said: "It is a huge privilege to be stepping into the shoes of Alec Leamis, John le Carre's great British intelligence officer creation, in this Cold War masterpiece on stage. Despite the novel being written in the 1960s, it feels startlingly relevant to the times we are living in now."

Ralf Little is best known for his roles as Antony Royle in BBC’s BAFTA winning comedy The Royle Family, with Caroline Aherne, and Jonny in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. In 2013 he led the cast of Peter Nichols’ comedy A Day in the Death of Joe Egg at Liverpool Playhouse.

Grainne Dromgoole (By Royal Appointment; The Merchant of Venice 1936) is the idealistic, left-wing librarian Liz Gold, with Tony Turner (Dear England; The Archers) as George Smiley.

More info and tickets here