A Game of Thrones stage prequel titled The Mad King is set to open at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced.
Produced in association with HBO, the play is set 10 years before the events of the original books and television series. It will present an original story based on new material from author and executive producer George RR Martin.
George RR Martin welcomed the adaptation, describing it as “thrilling” to see the story unfold live. He added that theatre offers a unique space where imagination meets performance.
Martin also said the RSC was the natural choice for staging a Game of Thrones story, citing Shakespeare’s influence on his writing. According to him, both creators faced similar challenges when depicting battles and political intrigue on stage.
Tickets for the production will go on sale in April, ahead of its summer premiere in Warwickshire.
What Is ‘The Mad King’ About?
The play is adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. It centres on a grand tournament where the great houses of Westeros gather as a long winter begins to thaw.
According to the production team, the event feels like a new dawn filled with hope. However, beneath the celebration lies tension, political unrest, and a brewing plot against the realm’s merciless Mad King.
The official synopsis highlights themes of dynastic struggle, ambition, rebellion, prophecy, and ill-fated love. Family bonds and the line of succession will be tested as dissenters quietly advance a treasonous plan.
Read: New Game of Thrones Sequel Series in Development Amid Book Wait
The original Game of Thrones series aired from 2011 to 2019 and developed a large global following. Since its conclusion, the franchise has expanded through exhibitions and television spin-offs.
Prequel series House of the Dragon debuted in 2022, while another spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, launched recently.
With The Mad King, the franchise now moves into live theatre, blending Shakespearean tradition with the epic scale of Westeros.
