The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced a 36-member cast for the world premiere of Game of Thrones: The Mad King, a new stage play centered on King Aerys II Targaryen, also known as the Mad King. Michael Shaeffer will play the title role in the production, which is adapted by Duncan Macmillan from George R. R. Martin’s novels.
The play will open at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on August 8 and run through September 5. Set before the events of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the story focuses on the political tensions in Westeros as the great houses face conflict over ambition, loyalty, family ties and succession during Aerys II’s rule.
Noah Ritter will portray Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, while Harmony Rose-Bremner has been cast as Lyanna Stark, Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark and Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon. Luke Brady will play Brandon Stark, with Alexander Newland as Lord Rickard Stark and Miles Barrow as Benjen Stark. Mariah Gale will appear as Queen Rhaella Targaryen and Lady Shella Whent, and Marcello Walton will play both Ser Jonothor Darry and Lord Tywin Lannister.
Other major roles include Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister, Daisy Franks as Cersei Lannister, Edem-Ita Duke as Oberyn Martell, Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell and Hughie O’Donnell as Lord Varys. Kel Matsena will play Ser Arthur Dayne, Daniel Hawksford will portray Ser Barristan Selmy, and Richard Hansell will appear as Grand Maester Pycelle. Marty Breen is cast as Catelyn Stark, Tanisha Spring as Ashara Dayne and Islam Bouakkaz as Howland Reed.
The ensemble also includes Adrian Christopher as Prince Lewyn Martell, Shaun Yusuf McKee as Ser Gerold Hightower, Huw Parmenter as Ser Oswell Whent, Sebastian Charles as Owen Merryweather, Fred Davis as Qarlton Chelsted, Tom Larkin as Lord Whent and Wisdom Rossart. The company is rounded out by Ronan Cullen, Simi Egbejumi-David, Lewis Howard, April Nerissa Hudson, Chelsea Marie, Kate Rowsell, Tom Stacy, Matt Tait and Tzarina-Nassor in ensemble and swing roles.
Director Dominic Cooke said he was excited to work with the creative team and cast on bringing Macmillan’s script and Martin’s world to the stage. Martin, who is serving as executive producer and creator, praised the cast for capturing the strengths and flaws of the characters and said he looked forward to seeing them perform the story live.
The production’s creative team includes set designer Chloe Lamford, costume designer Georgia McGuinness, lighting designer Jon Clark, composer Will Stuart, sound designer Tom Gibbons, puppetry and movement directors Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume, fight director Bethan Clark and intimacy director Ingrid Mackinnon. Casting is by Amy Ball CDG.
Game of Thrones: The Mad King is co-produced with Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, Mark Manuel, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures on behalf of HBO, and Sir Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment.
