Game of Thrones: The Mad King stage show confirms London transfer

George R. R. Martin has confirmed Game of Thrones: The Mad King will be moving to London.

Set decades before the events of Martin’s globally loved fantasy series, The Mad King tells the story of Robert’s Rebellion, beginning with a fateful tourney within the dilapidated ruins of Harrenhal.

The world premiere play is adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. It will be completing its five-star run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre tomorrow, 5 September.

The sell-out season received glowing notices, with a strong reaction from WhatsOnStage.

Martin said today: “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.”

We took a trip into rehearsals to chat exclusively with some of the lead cast about their time bringing Westeros to the stage. You can listen to the podcast for free on various streaming platforms – including Apple Podcasts and Audible.

Dates and venues for the London transfer will be confirmed in due course, with the show confirmed to be opening will take place in 2027.

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Co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: “We are thrilled that George R R Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King will have a future life in London. This production is unique and brilliantly demonstrates the extraordinary things that theatre can do. The reaction from audiences in Stratford has been phenomenal, 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.”

Joining Macmillan and Cooke on the RST run’s creative team are puppetry and movement directors Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (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 coach Jeannette Nelson, dialect coach Hazel Holder, associate director Emily Raymond, associate puppetry and movement director Scarlet Wilderink, period dance consultant Francesca Roche, creative consultant Ti Mikkel, director’s consultant Lenore Gallegos, associate puppetry designer Oli Simonon, associate set designer Machiko Weston, associate costume designer Alex Berry, associate lighting designer Lucía Sánchez Roldan, associate sound designer Alex Twiselton and assistant director Bellaray Bertrand-Webb.

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 Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment.