A fast-moving stage adaptation of Graham Greene’s spy comedy Our Man in Havana will come to Oxford Playhouse this summer, led by Call the Midwife actor Jack Ashton.
At a glance
| Show | Our Man in Havana |
| Where | Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW |
| When | Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August 2026 |
| Based on | Graham Greene’s novel |
| Adapted by | Clive Francis |
| Director | Philip Wilson |
| Cast | Jack Ashton, Bob Barrett, Leon Ockenden and Jodie Steele |
| Age guidance | 14+ |
| Booking | Tickets are available through Oxford Playhouse |
Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana will arrive at Oxford Playhouse later this month in a new stage production from Theatre Royal Windsor.
The spy comedy runs from Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August and follows James Wormold, a British vacuum-cleaner salesman living in pre-revolutionary Cuba who is unexpectedly recruited by MI6.
Short of real intelligence and with no genuine spy network to draw on, Wormold begins inventing agents, reports and supposed secret weapons. His fabricated dispatches are taken seriously, setting off a chain of increasingly absurd and dangerous consequences.
What is Our Man in Havana about?
Our Man in Havana is set in 1950s Cuba, where Wormold is trying to support his daughter while selling vacuum cleaners in Havana.
When MI6 agent Hawthorne recruits him as a spy, Wormold realises that fiction may be easier, and more profitable, than intelligence work. He creates an imaginary network of informants and sends reports that are convincing enough to alarm his superiors.
What begins as a comic fraud soon becomes more complicated as the Cuban authorities grow suspicious and Wormold’s make-believe espionage starts to have real-world consequences.
The story is one of Greene’s best-known comic works, combining farce, satire and Cold War anxiety with a sharp eye for the absurdity of bureaucracy and intelligence work.
Who is in the cast?
Jack Ashton leads the production as James Wormold. Ashton is known to television audiences for roles including Call the Midwife, and recently appeared in the touring stage adaptation of Little Women, which also visited Oxford Playhouse.
He is joined by Bob Barrett, Leon Ockenden and Jodie Steele, with the four performers playing more than 30 characters between them to bring Havana, MI6 and Wormold’s invented world to life.
The multi-role format is central to the show’s pace, turning Greene’s story into a fast-moving theatrical caper rather than a conventional spy drama.
Cast highlights
| Wormold | Jack Ashton |
| Voice 2 | Bob Barrett |
| Voice 3 | Leon Ockenden |
| Voice 4 | Jodie Steele |
| Understudies | James Leeman and Elinor Solly |
A classic spy story with comic bite
The production is adapted for the stage by Clive Francis, whose version highlights the comedy and absurdity of Greene’s original novel.
Theatre Royal Windsor describes the show as a fast-moving romp, with Wormold’s increasingly ridiculous intelligence reports, including supposed secret weapons, being accepted by MI6 as serious information.
For audiences used to spy stories built around glamour, danger and competence, Our Man in Havana offers something different: a hero who falls into espionage almost by accident and discovers that official systems can be just as foolish as the lies he invents.
Creative team
The production is directed by Philip Wilson.
Set and costume design is by Julie Godfrey, with lighting design by Nick Richings and sound design by Andy Graham.
Production photography is credited to Jack Merriman, according to Theatre Royal Windsor’s tour page.
Oxford performance times
| Date | Time | Access information |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 28 July | 7.30pm | |
| Wednesday 29 July | 2.30pm | |
| Wednesday 29 July | 7.30pm | |
| Thursday 30 July | 2.30pm | |
| Thursday 30 July | 7.30pm | |
| Friday 31 July | 7.30pm | |
| Saturday 1 August | 2.30pm | Audio described and touch tour |
| Saturday 1 August | 7.30pm |
Tickets can be booked through Oxford Playhouse or by calling the Box Office on 01865 305305.
Full UK tour dates
| Dates | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 1 to Saturday 11 July 2026 | Theatre Royal Windsor | Windsor |
| Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 July 2026 | Salisbury Playhouse | Salisbury |
| Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August 2026 | Oxford Playhouse | Oxford |
| Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 August 2026 | Theatre Royal Bath | Bath |
| Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 August 2026 | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre | Guildford |
| Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 August 2026 | Everyman Theatre | Cheltenham |
| Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 August 2026 | Malvern Theatres | Malvern |
| Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 September 2026 | Cambridge Arts Theatre | Cambridge |
Why Oxford audiences may be interested
Our Man in Havana should appeal to audiences who enjoy fast-paced comic theatre, classic literary adaptations and spy stories with a satirical edge.
The Havana setting gives the production a vivid period backdrop, while the four-actor structure means the comedy comes as much from theatrical invention as from Greene’s plot.
For Oxford Playhouse, it adds another summer main-stage production with a recognisable literary title and a cast likely to appeal to both theatre and television audiences.
FAQs
When is Our Man in Havana at Oxford Playhouse?
Our Man in Havana runs from Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August 2026.
What is Our Man in Havana about?
It follows James Wormold, a British vacuum-cleaner salesman in 1950s Havana who is recruited by MI6 and begins inventing spies and intelligence reports, with comic and dangerous consequences.
Who wrote the original novel?
The original novel was written by Graham Greene.
Who adapted the stage version?
The stage adaptation is by Clive Francis.
Who stars in the Oxford production?
The cast includes Jack Ashton as Wormold, with Bob Barrett, Leon Ockenden and Jodie Steele playing multiple roles.
Is there an age recommendation?
Oxford Playhouse lists the production as suitable for ages 14 and over.
Are there accessible performances?
Oxford Playhouse lists the Saturday 1 August 2.30pm performance as audio described with a touch tour.
Where can people book tickets?
Tickets can be booked through the Oxford Playhouse website or by calling 01865 305305.
