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RSC opens Game of Thrones: The Mad King

8/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Royal Shakespeare Company opened “Game of Thrones: The Mad King” at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on 8 August 2026.
Duncan Macmillan adapted the novels for a production directed by Dominic Cooke.
Michael Shaeffer plays King Aerys II while Callum Woodhouse plays Robert Baratheon.
Cooke said the production may later move to London or Broadway, giving the current cast first-refusal rights.

History

Historical Context

In 1997 Disney Theatrical’s Lion King opened on Broadway and became the highest-grossing Broadway show, earning over $2 billion and surpassing 11,000 performances. Its triumph proved cinematic franchises can become long-running stage hits, a pattern the Shakespeare Company follows on 8 August 2026 with Game of Thrones: The Mad King, adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke.

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Story summary

The Royal Shakespeare Company opened “Game of Thrones: The Mad King” at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on 8 August 2026.
Duncan Macmillan adapted the novels for a production directed by Dominic Cooke.
Michael Shaeffer plays King Aerys II while Callum Woodhouse plays Robert Baratheon.
Cooke said the production may later move to London or Broadway, giving the current cast first-refusal rights.

1 / 2