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Game Of Thrones prequel play ‘The Mad King’ confirms London launch
Music NewsSeptember 4, 2026 at 1:00 PMNational

Game Of Thrones prequel play ‘The Mad King’ confirms London launch

By Victoria LuxfordNME Music News

The play is about to complete its sold-out run in Stratford upon Avon The post Game Of Thrones prequel play ‘The Mad King’ confirms London launch appeared first on NME.

George R. R. Martin and The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) have announced that prequel play Game Of Thrones: The Mad King will open in London in 2027.

The big-budget production is written by Duncan Macmillan and is set before A Song Of Ice And Fire book series, later adapted into the TV show Game Of Thrones. The play has been running at the RSC’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon since August 8, and will conclude its run on September 5.

Now, the RSC and Martin have announced that the show will be brought to London. Dates and venue are yet to be announced, with fans able to sign up for updates here.

Alongside an announcement video, Martin said in a press release: “I had an absolutely splendid time in Stratford upon Avon for the premiere, 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.”

Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey added: “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 per cent of our bookers were new to the RSC. We can’t wait for more people to discover this beautiful and epic show.”

The play takes place a decade before the events of Game Of Thrones, during the reign of the “Mad King”, Aerys II, and follows the plots against him by those who fear his ruthlessness. BBC News reported that the play cancelled its first few previews due to technical issues, but has since opened to strong reviews from critics.

The production is the latest in the Game Of Thrones franchise, with TV spin-offs House Of The Dragon and A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms currently airing on HBO, while a video game and film are also in production.

The post Game Of Thrones prequel play ‘The Mad King’ confirms London launch appeared first on NME.

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