Cast for Game of Thrones: The Mad King at the RSC confirmed

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced the full cast for the world premiere of Game of Thrones: The Mad King, a new stage play based on the novels by George R R Martin, adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke.

The production will run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 20 July to 5 September 2026, with an official opening night on 8 August.

The cast includes (deep breath as it’s a huge company!) Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark, Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell, Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister, Miles Barrow as Benjen Stark, Islam Bouakkaz as Howland Reed, Luke Brady as Brandon Stark, Marty Breen as Catelyn Stark, Sebastian Charles as Owen Merryweather and ensemble, Adrian Christopher as Prince Lewyn Martell and ensemble, Ronan Cullen as ensemble/swing, Fred Davis as Qarlton Chelsted and ensemble, Edem-Ita Duke as Oberyn Martell, Simi Egbejumi-David as ensemble.

Onto a second paragraph, the company also includes Daisy Franks as Cersei Lannister and ensemble, Mariah Gale as Queen Rhaella Targaryen and Lady Shella Whent, Richard Hansell as Grand Maester Pycelle, Daniel Hawksford as Ser Barristan Selmy, Lewis Howard as ensemble, April Nerissa Hudson as ensemble, Tom Larkin as Lord Whent, Wisdom Rossart and ensemble, Chelsea Marie as ensemble, Kel Matsena as Ser Arthur Dayne, Shaun Yusuf McKee as Ser Gerold Hightower and ensemble, Alexander Newland as Lord Rickard Stark and Hughie O’Donnell as Lord Varys.

Third paragraph time, we also have Huw Parmenter as Ser Oswell Whent, Noah Ritter as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Harmony Rose-Bremner as Lyanna Stark, Kate Rowsell as ensemble/swing, Michael Shaeffer as King Aerys II Targaryen, Tanisha Spring as Ashara Dayne, Tom Stacy as ensemble/swing, Matt Tait as ensemble, Tzarina-Nassor as ensemble, Marcello Walton as Ser Jonothor Darry and Lord Tywin Lannister, and Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon.

Director Dominic Cooke said: “I’m very lucky to be working alongside such a talented group of artists on this show. The creative team and cast are exceptional and we’re super excited to bring Duncan Macmillan’s brilliant script and George R R Martin’s vivid imaginative world to life on stage. I’m delighted to return to the RSC, backed by their dedicated team, and I can’t wait to share our epic show with audiences in Stratford this summer”.

 Martin added: “I love this cast – they bring all the strengths, flaws and intricacies within these characters that drive this important chapter of Westerosi history. They have a fire in them, and I can’t wait to see them bring that fire to the stage.”

The production is set during the final years before the events of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, commencing at a fateful tourney amongst the ruins of Harrenhal.

The creative team includes puppetry and movement directors Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell for Lume, set designer Chloe Lamford, costume designer Georgia McGuinness, lighting designer Jon Clark, composer Will Stuart, sound designer Tom Gibbons, casting director Amy Ball, fight director Bethan Clark, intimacy director Ingrid Mackinnon, voice and text director Jeannette Nelson and dialect coach Hazel Holder.

Game of Thrones: The Mad King is co-produced with Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, Mark Manuel, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures on behalf of HBO, and Sir Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment.