The Spy That Came in From the Cold at the Churchill Theatre (28th March)

Following a critically acclaimed sell-out West End Season, this stage adaption of John le Carre’s classic Cold War novel by David Eldridge embarked on a UK tour which included a week at the Churchill Theatre. Directed by Jeremy Herrin and with a brilliant cast led by Ralf Little playing Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer - weary, hardened, disillusioned and ready to come in from the cold. 

Alec returns to London from East Germany following the killing of his most prized agent who was attempting to cycle through the checkpoint at the Berlin Wall with the agent’s death marking the end of Alec’s network in Germany. Alec is enlisted by Control, the Chief of the Circus (the headquarters of British Intelligence), to undertake one final, dangerous mission. Dispatched into enemy territory, he finds his convictions tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian who he met in London when working for a few days in the library where she was based. As a Communist, Liz was offered the chance by the East German Communist Party to participate in an exchange programme to East Germany where Alec and Liz paths collide ending in tragedy when they are both shot attempting to escape East Germany by climbing over the Wall. 

This was the first time a novel by John le Carre has been brought to the stage and was a thrilling and gripping adaption. Despite the novel being written in the 60s, it certainly seems to have some relevance for today. Thank you as always to Mary for organising such an entertaining and completely absorbing afternoon.

Contributed by Ann Wright