Game of Thrones: The Mad King stage play announces dates, details and creative team

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced dates and ticket details for its new stage adaptation set in the world of Game of Thrones, which will premiere in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer.

Game of Thrones: The Mad King, based on the novels by George R R Martin, will run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (in a “new configuration”) from 20 July to 5 September 2026, with an official opening night scheduled for 8 August.

Described as a large-scale stage epic, the production is set during the final years before the events of the original novels, focusing on a key period in the history of Westeros – featuring a young Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, Jaime Lannister and an appearance for the famed character Lyanna Stark. The line “Wars aren’t won by those with most cause, but whose story’s best told” is used to frame the narrative.

The play has been adapted by Duncan Macmillan and will be directed by Dominic Cooke. Priority booking opens at 10am on 14 April, with public booking from 10am on 22 April.

The creative team was also confirmed today, including puppetry and movement direction by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell for Lume, set design by Chloe Lamford, costume design by Georgia McGuinness, lighting design by Jon Clark, and music by composer Will Stuart. Sound design is by Tom Gibbons, with casting by Amy Ball.

Voice and text work is led by Jeannette Nelson, with dialect coaching from Hazel Holder. Emily Raymond serves as associate director, with Scarlet Wilderink as associate puppetry and movement director, and Francesca Roche as period dance consultant. Additional creative roles include Ti Mikkel as creative consultant, Machiko Weston as associate set designer, Alex Berry as associate costume designer, Alex Twiselton as associate sound designer and Lenore Gallegos as assistant director.

RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: “We are thrilled to share the full creative team and announce performance dates for Game of Thrones: The Mad King. This production brings together some of theatre’s most visionary talents to reimagine George R R Martin’s world for the stage.

“In a bold new configuration of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, audiences will find themselves at the very heart of the action — immersed in the intrigue and theatrical spectacle that promises to make this production truly epic. It’s an ambitious and exhilarating collaboration, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences into this extraordinary experience.”

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