Having already conquered novels and television, it was likely inevitable that Game of Thrones would make its way to the stage. It’s always had a theatrical aura that lends itself well to a drama about the politics of Westeros. Well, it’s finally happening, with the Royal Shakespeare Company producing Game of Thrones: The Mad King, a new play adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke.
The play will explore one of the great untold tales of A Song of Ice and Fire: The Great Tourney at Harrenhal, a key moment in the saga's history. This is where Rhaegar Targaryen named Lyanna Stark as the queen of love and beauty rather than his own wife, Elia Martell. That angered Lyanna's betrothed, Robert Baratheon, and sparked the epic rebellion that would reshape all of Westeros.
While one would expect this to be fodder for a TV or movie prequel, it’s coming to the stage. And now author George R.R. Martin himself is introducing the players!
Who are the players in The Mad King?
On his blog, Martin gave us the rundown of the players in the sort of epic prose only he could produce.
“There’s a tournament coming this summer.
Lord Whent is hosting it, from his seat at Harrenhal, the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms. It looks to be a grand event, Rhaegar Targaren will be on hand, the Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne. The Starks are coming down from Winterfell, Eddard and his brothers Brandon and Benjen and their lovely sister Lyanna. Her betrothed will also be on hand; Robert Baratheon, the young Lord of Storm’s End. Howland Reed of Greywater Watch will attend, fresh from his visit to the Isle of Faces. Lord Jon Arryn will along with Bronze Yohn Royce, Richard Lonmouth, the Kingsguard knights Jonothor Darry, Barristan Selmy, and Arthur Dayne will be among the competitors, along with Robert Baratheon, the dashing young Lord of Storm’s End, and a monstrous knight out of the Westerlands they called the Mountain That Rides. The fairest flowers of the Seven Kingdoms will attend to cheer them on, including Ashara Dayne, with her laughing purple eyes, and the Dornish beauty Elia Martell, Prince Rhaegar’s lady wife.
Even the king will be there. Aerys II of House Targaryen, the Mad King.”
As Martin’s words reveal, there are some familiar names like the Starks, John Arryn and Robert. But there are characters we haven’t known as much, such as Darry, Lonmouth, Ashara Dayne, and others. More importantly, we get to see the Thrones characters much younger, and very different from the ones we know from the show and books.
We’ll see a younger Robert with fire in his belly and how he led a rebellion, as well as how Aerys earned his name of the Mad King. Martin himself is already praising the show, noting that, “Yes, it goes without saying that I am a huge Shakespeare fan, and will it likely surprise no one to learn that the history plays are my favorites, and none more so than those set during the Wars of the Roses.”
This tease only adds to the excitement about the project, and how it will tell this chapter of the Westeros saga in a way few would have expected.
Game of Thrones: The Mad King is set to premiere on stage in Summer 2026. Stay tuned for further upates.