The Royal Shakespeare Company will bring the world of Westeros to the stage with the world premiere of Game of Thrones: The Mad King, a theatrical prequel based on George R.R. Martin’s novels, opening at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in summer 2026.
Set more than a decade before the events of the television series and the A Song of Ice and Fire books, the play begins at the ruins of Harrenhal during a fateful tournament that sparks political rivalry, plotting and the looming threat of war.
George R.R. Martin said the stage adaptation represents an unexpected new chapter for his storytelling. “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. To my great surprise, it was adapted for a series and viewers have been able to enter the world of my imagination through the medium of television.
“For my work to now be adapted for the stage is something I did not expect but welcome with great enthusiasm and excitement. Theatre offers something unique. A place for mine and the audience’s imagination to meet and hopefully create something magical.”
Adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, priority booking opens April 14, 2026, with wider booking details due later that month and full season plans to be revealed February 26.
Martin said the Royal Shakespeare Company was the natural venue for the production. “For me, the RSC was the obvious choice when thinking about putting a Game of Thrones story on the stage. Shakespeare is the greatest name in English literature, and his plays have been a constant source of inspiration to me and my writing. Not only that, he faced similar challenges in how to put a battle on stage, so we are in good company.
“It will be thrilling to watch the events of this new play unfold in a live environment. Duncan’s masterful script honours the world completely, and I am so excited for both fans of the series, and perhaps people who have never picked up one of my books, to experience this new story in a theatre.”
Macmillan and Cooke described the production as a hopeful yet ominous prequel. “The play is a prequel, taking place over a decade before the events of Game of Thrones. A long winter has started to thaw and, for the first time in years, all the great houses come together for a tournament – destined to be the greatest of the age. It feels like a new dawn, full of hope and opportunity. But tournaments always have a darker purpose.”
They added: “George’s storytelling is Shakespearean in its scale and its themes – dynastic struggle, ambition, rebellion, madness, prophecy, ill-fated love. From the beginning, Shakespeare’s histories and tragedies have been our primary reference for the ambition of this production, so the RSC feels like a natural home. It will be thrilling for us to share this new play with audiences, both those that know and love George’s books and HBO’s series, but also audiences who know nothing and want to come and experience something both beautifully intimate and truly epic.”
RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said the play connects fantasy storytelling with classical theatrical traditions. “When we first read Duncan’s script, it was immediately apparent how this epic cycle of warring families sits in a continuum with Shakespeare’s history cycles. So it feels like an exciting and apposite marriage between the RSC and Game of Thrones universe. Stories of power, ambition and the complexities of succession are evergreen – and this adaptation explores the true nature of authority through the lens of young people grappling with inherited identities. The story will have all the epic qualities audiences would expect from Game of Thrones, but ultimately, it has a very human heart.”
The production is co-produced with Simon Painter, Tim Lawson and Mark Manuel, alongside Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures on behalf of HBO, and Sir Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment.
About Author
Leave a Reply