WORLD PREMIERE OF GEORGE R. R. MARTIN’S GAME OF THRONES: THE MAD KING OPENS AT THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
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Last night, Saturday 8 August 2026, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) together with co-producers opened the world premiere of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King, a new play based on novels by George R. R. Martin, adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Creator and Executive Producer George R. R. Martin attended the premiere performance, which received a standing ovation, and congratulated the cast and creative team during a post-show reception.
Also in attendance at the premiere were familiar faces from the world of Westeros, including Bertie Carvel, Sibil Kekilli and Anton Lesser with friends of the company Lolita Chakrabarti and Ben Miles.
George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King will run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until Saturday 5 September.
The cast of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King comprises Michael Abubakar (Eddard Stark), Elizabeth Ayodele (Princess Elia Martell), Maxim Ays (Ser Jaime Lannister), Miles Barrow (Benjen Stark), Islam Bouakkaz (Howland Reed), Luke Brady (Brandon Stark), Marty Breen (Catelyn Stark), Sebastian Charles (Owen Merryweather / Ensemble / Puppeteer), Adrian Christopher (Prince Lewyn Martell / Ensemble / Puppeteer), Ronan Cullen (On-stage Swing / Puppeteer), Fred Davis (Qarlton Chelsted / Maester / Ensemble / Puppeteer), Edem-Ita Duke (Oberyn Martell), Simi Egbejumi-David (Ensemble / Puppeteer), Daisy Franks (Cersei Lannister / Golda Whent / Ensemble / Puppeteer), Mariah Gale (Queen Rhaella Targaryen / Lady Shella Whent), Richard Hansell (Grand Maester Pycelle), Daniel Hawksford (Ser Barristan Selmy), Lewis Howard (Ensemble / Puppeteer), April Nerissa Hudson (Ensemble / Puppeteer), Tom Larkin (Lord Whent / Wisdom Rossart / Ensemble / Puppeteer), Chelsea Marie (Ensemble / Puppeteer), Kel Matsena (Ser Arthur Dayne), Shaun Yusuf McKee (Ser Gerold Hightower / Ensemble / Puppeteer), Alexander Newland (Lord Rickard Stark), Hughie O’Donnell (Lord Varys), Huw Parmenter (Ser Oswell Whent), Noah Ritter (Prince Rhaegar Targaryen), Harmony Rose-Bremner (Lyanna Stark), Kate Rowsell (On-stage Swing / Puppeteer), Michael Shaeffer (King Aerys II Targaryen), Tanisha Spring (Ashara Dayne), Tom Stacy (On-stage Swing / Puppeteer), Matt Tait (Ensemble / Puppeteer), Tzarina-Nassor (Ensemble / Puppeteer), Marcello Walton (Ser Jonothor Darry / Lord Tywin Lannister) and Callum Woodhouse (Lord Robert Baratheon).
'Wars aren’t won by those with most cause, but whose story’s best told.'
George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King is a sweeping new stage epic from the world of George R. R. Martin. Spanning the final years before the events of the novels, this powerful drama reveals a legendary chapter of Westerosi history.
Joining Dominic and Duncan on the creative team are Puppetry and Movement Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (Lume); Set Designer Chloe Lamford; Costume Designer Georgia McGuinness; Lighting Designer Jon Clark; Composer Will Stuart; Sound Designer Tom Gibbons; Casting Director Amy Ball CDG; Fight Director Bethan Clark; Intimacy Director Ingrid Mackinnon; Voice & Text Jeannette Nelson; Dialect Hazel Holder; Associate Director Emily Raymond; Associate Puppetry and Movement Scarlet Wilderink; Period Dance Consultant Francesca Roche; Creative Consultant Ti Mikkel; Director’s Consultant Lenore Gallegos; Associate Puppetry Designer Oli Simonon; Associate Set Designer Machiko Weston; Associate Costume Designer Alex Berry; Associate Lighting Designer Lucía Sánchez Roldan; Associate Sound Designer Alex Twiselton and Assistant Director Bellaray Bertrand-Webb.
George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King is co-produced with Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, Mark Manuel, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures obo HBO and Sir Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment.
ENDS
For press enquiries please contact: Bethany Arnold, bethany.arnold@rsc.org.uk or Kate Evans, kate.evans@rsc.org.uk
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LISTINGS INFORMATION
George R. R. Martin’s
GAME OF THRONES: THE MAD KING
Adapted by Duncan Macmillan
Directed by Dominic Cooke
Until Saturday 5 September 2026
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Box Office: 01789 331111, rsc.org.uk
Tickets are priced from £20 plus a £3.50 per transaction fee (exclusions apply).
Discounts are available, subject to eligibility and availability. Please click here for further information: https://www.rsc.org.uk/ticket-prices-discounts-offers/
'Enter the world before.
A long winter thaws in Harrenhal, and spring is promised. At a lavish banquet on the eve of a jousting tournament, lovers meet and revellers speculate about who will contend. But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the blood-thirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot. Far away, the drums of battle sound.
Family bonds, ancient prophecies, and the sacred line of succession will be tested in a dangerous campaign for power. Who will survive? Who will rise?
'Wars aren’t won by those with most cause, but whose story’s best told.'
George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King is a sweeping new stage epic from the world of George R. R. Martin, written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. Spanning the final years before the events of the novels, this powerful drama reveals a legendary chapter of Westerosi history.
Come face to face with familiar characters from the houses Targaryen, Stark, Lannister, Baratheon and Martell and witness the events that set the stage for the world’s most critically acclaimed series.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Audio described performances with pre-show touch tour: Saturday 15 August, 1pm and Friday 4 September, 7.15pm
Chilled performance: Thursday 20 August, 1pm
Captioned performance: Thursday 27 August, 7.15pm
Chilled and Captioned performance: Saturday 29 August, 1pm
Post show talk: Tuesday 1 September
