Everything you need to know about 'Game of Thrones: The Mad King'

The acclaimed show based on George R. R. Martin's best-selling book series is coming to London in 2027 following its world premiere in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Summary

• Game of Thrones: The Mad King is coming to London in 2027
• The play had its world premiere in Stratford-upon-Avon
• Duncan Macmillan has adapted the play from George R. R. Martin's book series
• The story centres on the famous tournament at Harrenhal

Winter is coming… The exciting theatre production that acts as a prequel to the hugely popular Game of Thrones TV series, based on George R. R. Martin’s books, is heading to London in 2027 after an acclaimed world premiere in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The play has been adapted by Duncan Macmillan, with direction by Dominic Cooke. Learn more about the Royal Shakespeare Company show, which features romance, rivalry, noble houses, and a battle for the Iron Throne, ahead of its highly anticipated West End arrival.

Check back for Game of Thrones: The Mad King tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

What is Game of Thrones: The Mad King about?

The show is set a couple of decades before the events of the Game of Thrones TV series, and centres on the famous jousting tournament at Harrenhal. Prince Rhaegar, son of Aerys II (the unstable monarch of the title), is secretly hoping to persuade the powerful families of Westeros to depose his father. He is also obsessed with an ancient prophecy about “the Prince that was promised”, although his more practical, shrewd wife, Elia Martell, advises him to focus on alliances rather than mystical forecasts.

The Stark family attend the tournament, including Lyanna, who is engaged to Robert Baratheon. But she and Rhaegar fall for one another, upsetting everyone’s plans. Aerys also makes a surprise appearance at the tournament and taunts his son for not being able to kill him. The dramatic events spark the rebellion against Aerys, led by Robert, while Rhaegar and Lyanna conceive a son who will later play a key part in Game of Thrones.

Who wrote Game of Thrones: The Mad King?

The play has been adapted by Duncan Macmillan from George R. R. Martin’s beloved novels. Macmillan is an Olivier Award-nominated playwright whose numerous works include Every Brilliant Thing, People, Places and Things, Lungs, and an adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984.

Who are the characters in Game of Thrones: The Mad King?

The characters in the play include:

King Aerys II: the eponymous “mad king”, a Targaryen and a dangerous tyrant

Prince Rhaegar: Aerys’s son, who wants to depose his father, and who falls for Lyanna Stark

Lord Rickard Stark: Warden of the North, and one of the nobles attending the tournament

Brandon Stark: Rickard’s eldest son and a hot favourite in the tournament

Lyanna Stark: the headstrong daughter who feels an instant connection to Rhaegar

Eddard Stark: the younger version of the character we know as dad Ned on the Game of Thrones

Lord Tywin Lannister: the Hand of the King, so a powerful figure in the realm

Ser Jaime Lannister: his teenage son, hoping to make a splash at the tournament

Princess Elia Martell: Rhaegar’s wife, who is pregnant and in fragile health

Lord Robert Baratheon: a charismatic young noble, engaged to Lyanna Stark

Where is Game of Thrones: The Mad King playing?

The show’s venue is to be announced.

When is Game of Thrones: The Mad King playing?

Game of Thrones: The Mad King booking dates for 2027 are to be announced.

How long is Game of Thrones: The Mad King?

The running time of the show in Stratford was 3 hours and 40 minutes. The London running time is to be announced.

Who is in the cast of Game of Thrones: The Mad King?

The cast for the London run is to be announced. In Stratford, it included Michael Shaeffer as King Aerys II Targaryen, Noah Ritter as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon, Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark, Harmony Rose-Bremner as Lyanna Stark, Luke Brady as Brandon Stark, Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister, Marty Breen as Catelyn Stark, Marcello Walton as Ser Jonothor Darry / Lord Tywin Lannister, Alexander Newland as Lord Rickard Stark, and Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell.

Who is in the creative team of Game of Thrones: The Mad King?

The play is directed by multi-Olivier-winner Dominic Cooke, former artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre associate director. His celebrated shows include Follies, Hello, Dolly!, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Clybourne Park, and The Crucible, and his screen projects include The Hollow Crown and On Chesil Beach.

The production also has puppetry and movement by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (Olivier winners for Life of Pi), set design by Tony winner Chloe Lamford (Death of a Salesman), and lighting by Tony and Olivier winner Jon Clark (Stranger Things: The First Shadow).

What are some fun facts about Game of Thrones: The Mad King?

• The play dramatises a fabled event in Game of Thrones history, which is often referred to on the TV show but has never before been witnessed. There are also numerous fun Easter eggs for fans, who get to see younger versions of their favourite characters and hints of what’s to come.

• The famous Iron Throne does make an appearance in the stage production. It’s been meticulously crafted by the RSC team, formed out of more than 300 individually made swords.

• Puppets play a key role in the show, bringing to life elements like the jousters on horseback competing in the tournament and battling armies, as well as ravens and – of course – a dragon.

• Another treat for fans is seeing the enormous Laughing Tree. This sacred tree, with its distinctive heart-shaped leaves, is a major feature of the show and pays off a long-standing Thrones mystery about the so-called Knight of the Laughing Tree.

Inset photo credits: Game of Thrones: The Mad King, Duncan Macmillan, George R. R. Martin and Dominic Cooke, (Photos courtesy of the production, by Seamus Ryan/RSC)