Game of Thrones: The Mad King – introducing each character named in the play

The company for the world premiere of Game of Thrones: The Mad King was revealed last week! Given there will be 30+ cast members in action, we wanted to give you a who’s who cheat sheet to get you excited for the play.

Details below are based on Martin’s books and other writings, though we should warn that there might be some tinkering and alterations made by playwright Duncan Macmillan for this version of the tale. Also – we have tried to be vague where possible to avoid spoilers for the events that follow, but if you want to go in with zero preconceptions then maybe hang fire before delving below.

House Targaryen

King Aerys II
Played by Michael Shaeffer and the eponymous “Mad King” of the tale. King Aerys starts the play on the Iron Throne but deeply paranoid, and he heads to a pivotal tourney (a big tournament, think A Knight’s Tale with less Heath Ledger and equal amounts of Mark Addy) at Harrenhal. Not exactly a recipe for a lovely outing.

Queen Rhaella
One of the two roles played by Mariah Gale, Rhaella is the sister-wife (as we know incest is to be expected in Martin’s work) of Aerys II. She is attending Harrenhal with the court, though her marriage to Aerys is by this point a private horror show.

Prince Rhaegar
Played by Noah Ritter and potentially the driving force behind the whole event. Some believe the entire tourney had in fact been organised by Rhaegar to gather the great lords of Westeros and address the madness of his father Aerys, perhaps even to remove him from the Iron Throne. He arrives as the crown prince, already married to Elia Martell (more on her below), and is the favourite to triumph in the tourney. Very much Edward the Black Prince energy.

House Stark

Lord Rickard Stark
Played by Alexander Newland, the Stark father is attending Harrenhal as Warden of the North, one of the great lords whose presence at Harrenhal gives the tournament its political weight. His three children are with him, and he is in the midst of carefully arranging their futures – Brandon’s betrothal to Catelyn Tully, and Lyanna’s to Robert Baratheon. Things don’t exactly go to plan.

Brandon Stark
Played by Luke Brady, the eldest Stark son is his father’s heir, full of the hot-blooded swagger that defines him. He intends to joust in the tournament as one of the favourites.

Lyanna Stark
Harmony Rose-Bremner will play one of the most pivotal characters in the entire Song of Ice and Fire, present with her family, betrothed to the Lord of Storm’s End Robert Baratheon. Headstrong, wise, capable at arms and never one to shy away from a fight, Lyanna’s life is completely about to change.

Eddard Stark
Years and years before he gets embroiled in the events of Game of Thrones, Ned Stark (played by Michael Abubakar) is attending as Lord Rickard’s second son, 18 years old and fresh from his fostering at the Eyrie under Jon Arryn alongside Robert. Definitely more spare than heir, he is not here as a great lord or a famous fighter – Brandon is the heir, the jouster, the one people watch. Ned is quieter, observing, standing beside his family. He is betrothed to no one at this point, but will notice Ashara Dayne at the opening feast, and she will notice him.

Benjen Stark
The youngest Stark sibling, played by Miles Barrow, Benjen is at Harrenhal as part of the family party. A spectator more than a participant; too young to joust (unless the ages have been shuffled around in the play).

House Lannister

Lord Tywin
One of two characters played by Marcello Walton and Hand of the King at the opening of the tourney, arguably the most powerful man in the realm after Aerys. His relationship with the king is close to breaking point, and about to be blown apart by Aerys’ decisions at Harrenhal.

Ser Jaime
Played by Maxim Ays, the teenage Jaime Lannister arrives at Harrenhal as a freshly knighted young lion and a doting twin brother, hoping to compete and distinguish himself. Things do not go as planned.

Cersei
Played by Daisy Franks, Cersei is attending as Tywin’s daughter and Jaime’s supportive sister. She is not yet married and is being quietly positioned to be betrothed by Tywin somewhere very advantageous.

House Martell

Princess Elia
Played by Elizabeth Ayodele, Elia is present at Harrenhal as Rhaegar’s wife, the Princess of Dragonstone. She has borne him a daughter, Rhaenys, and is pregnant again (with Aegon, who will be born shortly after). Her health is fragile. She is here in the place of honour, presumably to be showered with love by her husband.

Oberyn Martell
Played by Edem-Ita Duke, Oberyn is young, sharp-eyed and already dangerous, attending as his sister’s companion and one of the more electric presences at the tourney. He is not yet the Red Viper by reputation, but he is getting there.

Prince Lewyn Martell
Elia’s uncle and a member of the Kingsguard, here in his white cloak and played by Adrian Christopher. He is one of the most decorated knights at the tourney and will joust in the lists.

The Kingsguard

Ser Gerold Hightower
Hightower is the Lord Commander, attending as the head of the order. Played by Shaun Yusuf McKee.

Ser Arthur Dayne
Played by Kel Matsena, he is the Sword of the Morning, widely considered the greatest living knight. He jousts in the lists. His sister Ashara is also here.

Ser Barristan Selmy
Played by Daniel Hawksford and already legendary, Selmy is touted to be one of the strongest presences in the joust.

Ser Oswell Whent
Attending as Kingsguard, and notably it was his visit to his brother Lord Whent (more on him below) that is widely understood to have been the prompt for the tournament being announced. Played by Huw Parmenter.

Ser Jonothor Darry
Present with the royal party as part of the white-cloaked guard around the king. Also played by Marcello Walton.

Others

Lord Robert Baratheon
Played by Callum Woodhouse and arriving at Harrenhal as the young Lord of Storm’s End, already enormous and charismatic. He is betrothed to Lyanna Stark and arrives in high spirits, ready to compete.

Ashara Dayne
Played by Tanisha Spring and attending as a lady-in-waiting and one of the great beauties of the realm. She dances at the opening feast and catches more than one eye: including, reportedly, Ned Stark’s.

Catelyn Tully
Not actually at Harrenhal and played by Marty Breen, she is back in Riverrun at the start of the story, betrothed to Brandon Stark but not yet his wife. She has likely never met Ned Stark. The tourney is happening at a remove from her entirely; she is waiting to become a great lord’s wife.

Howland Reed
Arriving at Harrenhal as a young crannogman, far out of his element among the great lords and famous knights. Played by Islam Bouakkaz, he is set upon by squires who mock him as lowborn, before help comes from an unexpected corner. He will become one of the most important witnesses to everything that follows.

Lord Varys
According to current writing he is not at Harrenhal in person, but his intelligence is everywhere. TV fans will know his reputation, he is played by Hughie O’Donnell.

Grand Maester Pycelle
Played by Richard Hansell and part of the royal court attending with Aerys, loyal to the Lannisters as much as to the crown.

Lord Owen Merryweather
An amiable but ultimately ineffectual man, his significance unexpectedly grows as the tragic tale progresses. Played by Sebastian Charles.

Lord Whent & Lady Shella Whent
Hosts of the whole affair and played by Tom Larkin and Mariah Gale, the pair are presiding over Harrenhal and presenting the vast champion’s purse that drew hundreds of knights from across the Seven Kingdoms.

Qarlton Chelsted
A minor court figure at this stage, part of the royal administrative apparatus that follows Aerys wherever he goes. He will later become very important, but at Harrenhal he is unremarkable. Played by Fred Davis.

Lord Wisdom Rossart
A pyromancer (!!), Rossart is part of the king’s inner circle of alchemists, though he would not necessarily be prominent at the start of the tale. Also played by Tom Larkin.