The Royal Shakespeare Company has released the first official cast portrait and the full cast list for its upcoming stage production, "Game of Thrones: The Mad King." The prequel play, which was announced in February, is scheduled to premiere on Saturday, August 8, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and will run until Saturday, September 5, 2026.
This theatrical debut coincides with the 30th anniversary of the initial publication of George R. R. Martin’s "A Game of Thrones," the first novel in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. The production is adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. "Game of Thrones: The Mad King" is set to explore "the final years before the events of the novels" and aims to "reveal a legendary chapter of Westerosi history," according to a press release.
The cast portrait features Tanisha Spring as Ashara Dayne, Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell, Mariah Gayle as Queen Rhaella Targaryen, Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon, Michael Shaeffer as King Aerys II Targaryen, Harmony Rose-Bremner as Lyanna Stark, Luke Brady as Brandon Stark, Noah Ritter as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, and Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark.
In addition to the actors in the portrait, the full cast includes Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark, Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell, Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister, Miles Barrow as Benjen Stark, Islam Bouakkaz as Howland Reed, Luke Brady as Brandon Stark, Marty Breen as Catelyn Stark, Sebastian Charles as Owen Merryweather / Ensemble / Puppeteer, Adrian Christopher as Prince Lewyn Martell / Ensemble / Puppeteer, Ronan Cullen as On-stage Swing / Puppeteer, Fred Davis as Qarlton Chelsted / Maester / Ensemble / Puppeteer, Edem-Ita Duke as Oberyn Martell, Simi Egbejumi-David as Ensemble / Puppeteer, Daisy Franks as Cersei Lannister / Golda Whent / Ensemble / Puppeteer, Mariah Gale as Queen Rhaella Targaryen / Lady Shella Whent, Richard Hansell as Grand Maester Pycelle, Daniel Hawksford as Ser Barristan Selmy, Lewis Howard as Ensemble / Puppeteer, April Nerissa Hudson as Ensemble / Puppeteer, Tom Larkin as Lord Whent / Wisdom Rossart / Ensemble / Puppeteer, Chelsea Marie as Ensemble / Puppeteer, Kel Matsena as Ser Arthur Dayne, Shaun Yusuf McKee as Ser Gerold Hightower / Ensemble / Puppeteer, Alexander Newland as Lord Rickard Stark, Hughie O’Donnell as Lord Varys, Huw Parmenter as Ser Oswell Whent, Noah Ritter as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Harmony Rose-Bremner as Lyanna Stark, Kate Rowsell as On-stage Swing / Puppeteer, Michael Shaeffer as King Aerys II Targaryen, Tanisha Spring as Ashara Dayne, Tom Stacy as On-stage Swing / Puppeteer, Matt Tait as Ensemble / Puppeteer, Tzarina-Nassor as Ensemble / Puppeteer, Marcello Walton as Ser Jonothor Darry / Lord Tywin Lannister, and Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon.
The creative team behind the production includes Puppetry and Movement by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (Lume), Set Designer Chloe Lamford, Costume Designer Georgia McGuinness, Lighting Designer Jon Clark, Composer Will Stuart, and Sound Designer Tom Gibbons. The play is co-produced with Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, Mark Manuel, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, HBO, and Sir Leonard Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment.