Game of Thrones: The Mad King Reveals Full Stage Cast and First Portrait
The Royal Shakespeare Company has unveiled the cast and first promotional photograph for Game of Thrones: The Mad King, a new stage play adaptation opening on August 8, 2026, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The production will run through September 5, 2026.
The play features Michael Shaeffer as King Aerys II Targaryen in a central role, with a cast portraying several significant characters from George R. R. Martin’s fictional universe: Ashara Dayne, Elia Martell, Rhaella Targaryen, Robert Baratheon, Lyanna Stark, Brandon Stark, Rhaegar Targaryen, and Eddard Stark.
Set approximately a decade before the events depicted in the A Song of Ice and Fire book series and the Game of Thrones television adaptation, the stage production focuses primarily on a dinner banquet during the declining years of King Aerys II Targaryen’s reign. This positions the play as a prequel exploring significant historical events within the fictional world.
The announcement coincides with the 30th anniversary of the original publication of A Game of Thrones, the first novel in the series. This stage adaptation represents a unique medium for the franchise, bringing the complex narratives of Martin’s universe to live theatrical performance through the Royal Shakespeare Company’s involvement.