The extremely popular television series “Game of Thrones” is heading for the theatre stage with a prequel. The play is set for this summer at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in England.
Duncan MacMillan wrote the play based on the novels written by Geroge R.R. Martin.
The play takes place 10 years before the hit television series and is titled “Game of Thrones: The Mad King” with direction by Dominic Cooke.
Following the event that inspired Robert’s Rebellion: the Tourney at Harrenhal; all of the noble houses of Westeros are there where at the jousting tournament the Mad King Aerys’ married son Prince Rhaegar Targaryen falls in love with Lyanna Stark.
Rhaegar and Lyanna run off together which leads to Lyanna’s finance Robert Baratheon leading a rebellion that deposes the Mad King; that leads to the fall of the House of Targaryen; which ties into the “Game of Thrones” series.
Martin spoke via statement about his popular series saying, “when I first wrote Game of Thrones, I never imagined that it would be anything other than a book. It was a place for my imagination to exist without limits. To my great surprise, it was adapted for a series and viewers have been able to enter the world of my imagination through the medium of television. For my work to now be adapted for the stage is something I did not expect but welcome with great enthusiasm and excitement. Theatre offers something unique. A place for mine and the audience’s imagination to meet and hopefully create something magical.”
Serving as the executive producer for the play, Martin continued, “for me, the RSC was the obvious choice when thinking about putting a “Game of Thrones” story on the stage. Shakespeare is the greatest name in English literature, and his plays have been a constant source of inspiration to me and my writing. Not only that, he faced similar challenges in how to put a battle on stage, so we are in good company. It will be thrilling to watch the events of this new play unfold in a live environment. Duncan’s masterful script honors the world completely, and I am so excited for both fans of the series, and perhaps people who have never picked up one of my books, to experience this new story in a theatre.”
Playwright Duncan MacMillian and director Dominic Cooke spoke via a joint statement saying, “the play is a prequel, taking place over a decade before the events of ‘Game of Thrones’. A long winter has started to thaw and, for the first time in years, all the great houses come together for a tournament—destined to be the greatest of the age. It feels like a new dawn, full of hope and opportunity. But tournaments always have a darker purpose.”
The continued, “George’s storytelling is Shakespearean in its scale and its themes—dynastic struggle, ambition, rebellion, madness, prophecy, ill-fated love. From the beginning, Shakespeare’s histories and tragedies have been our primary reference for the ambition of this production, so the RSC feels like a natural home. It will be thrilling for us to share this new play with audiences, both those that know and love George’s books and HBO’s series, but also audiences who know nothing and want to come and experience something both beautifully intimate and truly epic.”