The Royal Shakespeare Company‘s sell-out stage production in Stratford-upon-Avon of Game of Thrones: The Mad King will transfer to London next year, the company and George R. R. Martin announced today.
Martin himself appeared in a a brief Instagram video this morning announcing the move. (Watch it below).
In a written statement, Martin, Game of Thrones creator and Mad King executive producer, said, “I had an absolutely splendid time in Stratford-upon-Avon for the premier and am thrilled the production will be moving to London to share the experience with a wider audience. It promises to be an exhilarating journey.”
The final performance at the RSC’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon will take place this Saturday, September 5. The play, based on Martin’s novels adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, will open at an as-yet-unidentified London venue. The dates will be announced later as well.
“We are thrilled that George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King will have a future life in London,” said RSC Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey. “This production is unique and brilliantly demonstrates the extraordinary things that theatre can do.
“The reaction from audiences in Stratford has been phenomenal,” they continued, “and we are so honoured that 57% of our bookers were new to the RSC. We can’t wait for more people to discover this beautiful and epic show.”
The Mad King, which spans the final years before the events of the novels and “reveals a legendary chapter of Westerosi history” (per the synopsis), had its world premiere at the RST on Saturday, August 8.
The prequel that, according to its official synopsis, is set in Harrenhal as a long winter begins to thaw. “At a lavish banquet on the eve of a jousting tournament,” the synopsis reads, “lovers meet and revelers speculate about who will contend. But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the bloodthirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot. Far away, the drums of battle sound. Family bonds, ancient prophecies, and the sacred line of succession will be tested in a dangerous campaign for power. Who will survive? Who will rise?”
The play is inspired by the “Robert’s Rebellion” lore of Martin’s sprawling book series, in which the married Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, son of the Mad King Aerys, falls in love with, and runs off with, Lyanna Stark. This leads to a rebellion led by Robert Baratheon, who is engaged to Lyanna. Successfully deposing the Mad King, The Rebellion leads to the downfall of House Targaryen.
The Royal Shakespeare Company production is produced by Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, Mark Manuel, Sir Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures on behalf of HBO.
Read about critics’ reactions to the show here.
