Review: THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD at Theatre Royal Glasgow
Intriguing, atmospheric
Initially a 1963 novel by John le Carré, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold sneaks into Glasgow this week in a fresh new stage adaptation. Set amid the deceptive terrain of Cold War Europe, the story follows British intelligence officer Alec Leamas as he is sent on a dangerous mission to East Germany.
Ralf Little delivers a solid central performance as Leamas, convincingly portraying a man hollowed out by years of espionage and emotional detachment. There is a genuine weariness to him that suits the production’s bleak atmosphere. Gráinne Dromgoole’s Liz Gold, however, feels less convincing. Her performance lacks emotional variation and the chemistry between Liz and Leamas isn't wholly convincing - problematic when so much of the story depends on the audience investing in their connection.
Like many adaptations of dense novels, the production struggles at times under the weight of exposition. The first half can feel slow-moving and overly talkative, though the pace sharpens significantly later on. The final courtroom sequence is particularly gripping, finally bringing together the tension and moral ambiguity the play spends much of its runtime building towards.
Visually, the production is far more successful. The staging is striking, with a giant map spread across the stage floor and a bullseye fixed over East Germany, a constant reminder of Cold War political gameplay. Impressive lighting and gobo effects help create a shadowy world of surveillance and suspicion.
There is an interesting story buried within the production about identity, dishonesty and the emotional damage caused by living a life built on manipulation... but the performances don’t always bring enough humanity to match the strength of those ideas. Stylish and atmospheric throughout, but emotionally colder than it perhaps intends to be.
The Spy who Came in from the Cold is at Theatre Royal Glasgow until 30 May
Photo: Johan Persson
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