The Mad King’s Reign Ignites the New Game of Thrones Prequel
Years of whispers end this summer as Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon unveils the world premiere of Game of Thrones: The Mad King, bringing George R.R. Martin’s blood-soaked Targaryen saga to the stage—so you can witness the reign that ignited the fall of House Targaryen live.
Westeros is officially taking the stage. This summer, the world premiere of 'Game of Thrones: The Mad King' lands at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon — which is about as fitting a battleground as it gets for a saga about power, blood, and very messy family politics.
What the play covers
The story zeroes in on the Tourney at Harrenhal, a lavish gathering that lights the fuse for Robert's Rebellion and, eventually, the collapse of the Targaryens' three-century grip on the Iron Throne. Front and center is Aerys II Targaryen — the Mad King himself — Daenerys's father and the doomed monarch Jaime Lannister kills to earn that infamous 'Kingslayer' nickname.
Harrenhal also brings together younger versions of a few heavy hitters: Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, and a teenage Jaime right before he joins the Kingsguard. If you like your Thrones history with big choices and bigger consequences, this is the moment where a lot of threads start to knot.
'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 revelers 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.'
Who is making it
- Adaptation: Duncan Macmillan, from George R.R. Martin's books
- Director: Dominic Cooke
- Venue: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
- Premiere: This summer (world premiere)
Martin, on seeing his world hit the stage
'When I first wrote Game of Thrones, I never imagined that it would be anything other than a book. It was a place for my imagination to exist without limits.'
He also called the Royal Shakespeare Theatre the right stage for this chapter of Westerosi history — hard to argue with putting a powder-keg court drama on Shakespeare's home turf.
Tickets and timing
Priority tickets go on sale April 14. If you want the best shot at seats, Royal Shakespeare Company membership gets you early access.