Game of Thrones hits the stage!

This summer, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon will premiere a new play, "Game of Thrones: The Mad King," serving as a prequel to George RR Martin's acclaimed saga. Martin expressed that the RSC was the "obvious choice" for this adaptation, citing Shakespeare's influence on his work and the challenge of staging battles.

The collaborative project, involving adapter Duncan Macmillan and director Dominic Cooke, was first announced in 2021. They noted the Shakespearean scale and themes in Martin's storytelling, including dynastic struggle, ambition, and madness, making the RSC a natural home for the production.

RSC co-artistic directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans highlighted how the play's cycle of warring families aligns with Shakespeare's history cycles. It aims to explore authority through the lens of young individuals confronting inherited identities. Martin, an executive producer, has visited the RSC and is enthusiastic about his work moving to the stage after its novel and television adaptations.

The play is set a decade before the events of "Game of Thrones," featuring familiar houses like Targaryen and Stark. It promises a narrative of intrigue and impending conflict within the realm of a "merciless Mad King." While specific dates and casting remain unannounced, tickets will become available from April, with the production set for the Royal Shakespeare theatre.