George R. R. Martin's stage play Game of Thrones: The Mad King began preview performances at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on 28 July 2026 WhatsOnStage. The world premiere production, presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company, is scheduled to run until 5 September 2026, with an official opening night on 8 August.

The play is adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. Set decades before the events of Martin's fantasy series, it tells the story of Robert's Rebellion, beginning with a tourney at Harrenhal — the gathering where key houses' fates begin to turn.

Previews have not been entirely smooth. The New York Times reported on 27 July 2026 that some performances had been cancelled New York Times. The reasons for the cancellations were not specified in the reporting. Preview performances — the rehearsals before the official opening night, where the creative team can adjust the production in front of a live audience — routinely see changes, cancellations, and technical holds, though the scale of disruption in this case drew press attention a day before the first public performance was announced.

The RSC released rehearsal images on 21 July, a week ahead of the start of performances RSC. The company's Instagram account had earlier flagged a 20 July debut date — earlier than the 28 July start confirmed by WhatsOnStage, the most recently published source.

The cast spans a wide range of characters from the world of Westeros. Michael Abubakar plays Eddard Stark, with Luke Brady as Brandon Stark and Alexander Newland as Lord Rickard Stark. Maxim Ays takes on Ser Jaime Lannister; Daisy Franks plays Cersei Lannister. Elizabeth Ayodele appears as Princess Elia Martell, and Edem-Ita Duke plays Oberyn Martell — two roles tied to the southern kingdom of Dorne.

Kel Matsena plays Ser Arthur Dayne, with Shaun Yusuf McKee as Ser Gerold Hightower, both Kingsguard knights. Daniel Hawksford takes on Ser Barristan Selmy. Hughie O'Donnell plays Lord Varys, the court spymaster. Mariah Gale doubles as Queen Rhaella Targaryen and Lady Shella Whent. Miles Barrow plays Benjen Stark, and Islam Bouakkaz plays Howland Reed.

For a general audience, the draw is straightforward: this is the first time Martin's world has been built for a theatre stage rather than a television screen, and it lands at the RSC — the company most associated with Shakespeare's own staging of kings, rebellion, and dynastic collapse. The story being told, Robert's Rebellion, is the civil war referenced throughout the original novels and television series, but never shown in full. Audiences at Stratford are getting it first.

The production runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Tickets and performance details are available through the RSC's website.