A standing ovation greeted the world premiere of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre on Saturday 8 August.
The new Royal Shakespeare Company production is now running until Saturday 5 September 2026. Tickets start at £20, plus a £3.50 per-transaction fee, with discounts available subject to eligibility and availability. It is aimed at theatre audiences and followers of Martin’s Westeros world who want to see a story set before the events of the novels.
A Westeros story set before the novels
Adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, the Theatre Play unfolds during the final years before the events of George R. R. Martin’s novels. Its action begins around a banquet before a jousting tournament at Harrenhal, as unease grows over King Aerys II Targaryen — the Mad King — and figures close to him consider a treasonous plot.
The production brings together characters from Houses Targaryen, Stark, Lannister, Baratheon and Martell. The Royal Shakespeare Company describes it as a stage epic in which family ties, prophecy and succession are tested amid a struggle for power.
The cast includes Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark, Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell, Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister, Michael Shaeffer as King Aerys II Targaryen, Noah Ritter as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon. George R. R. Martin attended the premiere performance.
Dates, venue and ticket details
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Venue | Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Run | Until Saturday 5 September 2026 |
| Tickets | From £20, plus a £3.50 per-transaction fee |
| Booking | RSC box office: 01789 331111; rsc.org.uk |
No standard start time is listed in the supplied information. Visitors should check the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance schedule when booking.
Accessible performances during the run
The schedule includes audio-described performances with a pre-show touch tour on Saturday 15 August at 1pm and Friday 4 September at 7.15pm. A chilled performance is listed for Thursday 20 August at 1pm, while the captioned performance is on Thursday 27 August at 7.15pm.
A combined chilled and captioned performance is scheduled for Saturday 29 August at 1pm. The Royal Shakespeare Company has also listed a post-show talk for Tuesday 1 September.
For tickets and eligibility-based discounts, contact the RSC box office on 01789 331111 or use rsc.org.uk.
Source: Royal Shakespeare Company Press Releases
Context & actions About this article
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Dates, venue, ticket pricing and accessible-performance details were checked against the Royal Shakespeare Company’s published listing.
- The production opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 8 August 2026.
- The run is listed through Saturday 5 September 2026.
- Ticket prices start at £20 plus a £3.50 per-transaction fee.
- Audio-described, chilled and captioned performances are listed by date and time.
- Source
- Royal Shakespeare Company press release
- Scope
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Updated
- 2026-08-12 16:56
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