This has been a banner year in the Seven Kingdoms. From the debut of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to a new season of House of the Dragon, we've rarely ever had so many stories coming out of Westeros all in one calendar year. It didn't stop at television either; over in the UK, the Royal Shakespeare Company premiered their long-awaited Game of Thrones stage play, Game of Thrones: The Mad King.
The Mad King was incredibly well received, both by diehard fans of Westeros and by theatre-goers in general. From its sweeping story of doomed romance to the intricacies of how Robert's Rebellion began, the extensive use of awe-inspiring puppetry (including jousting!), lore reveals fans have been speculating about for decades and more, there was so much to digest with this play. It feels like a true extension of Westeros' story, rather than simply an additional romp tacked on to capitalize on the Game of Thrones name with a different audience.
The initial performances of Game of Thrones: The Mad King ran from July 28 to September 5, 2026, with its world premiere taking place around a week after its early test showings on August 8. While that gave fans who either lived close enough to Stratford-upon-Avon or had the means to travel a good window of time to see it, many others didn't get the chance.
Thankfully, this is far from the end for The Mad King! Author George R.R. Martin himself announced the good news on Instagram that the Royal Shakespeare Company's play will be moving to London for another run of shows in 2027. Check it out:
Game of Thrones: The Mad King will premiere in London in 2027
In addition to Martin's video, the Royal Shakespeare Company also posted an updated about the news on its website, giving a bit more clarity on this move and what fans can expect:
"We are thrilled to announce that following its critically-acclaimed world premiere at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre earlier this summer, George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King, the new play based on novels by George R. R. Martin, adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, will open in London in 2027."
This is great news for a few reasons. First and most obviously, more shows in a larger city means more people will get to see The Mad King. But it also could hold broader implications as well. London's West End is the largest theatre scene in the UK, and if the show does well there, a natural next step may be to take it to Broadway in the United States. That's the route that both Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Stranger Things: The First Shadow went, so the chances are looking better than ever that we might get to see The Mad King premiere stateside at some point.
Will Game of Thrones: The Mad King ever stream on HBO Max?
Even more than another future move to Broadway, my big hope for this new run of The Mad King is that a pro-shot recording of the show is captured sometime during its time in London. The play was produced in association with HBO, which means that Game of Thrones' television home could have a stake in seeing the it eventually stream for audiences on HBO Max. Obviously, if that happens it won't be for a while — the RSC wants people to actually turn out to see this thing on stage, the way it's meant to be seen — but the odds are definitely better now that the production is heading to London.
However things plays out, we can say with certainty that Game of Thrones: The Mad King will debut in London sometime in 2027. Robert Baratheon, Rhaegar Targaryen, Lyanna Stark, Aerys Targaryen, and all the rest of the show's fantastic cast of characters will return then!
To stay up to date on all the latest news for Game of Thrones: The Mad King, sign up for the official newsletter at www.gameofthronesonstage.com.
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