“From the moment you step into the auditorium, it’s clear that this is a spectacle unlike anything you’ve seen before.” By Roni, Aug 9 · 5/5 stars
PLAYREGIONALCLOSED
Game of Thrones: The Mad King
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Opened Aug 8, 2026 · Closed Sep 5, 2026 · Ran for 1 month
UK regional production: a major house outside London, tracked alongside the West End.
7 Rave
9 Positive
2 Mixed
Critics' Take
The RSC's ambitious prequel triumphs with jaw-dropping technical spectacle and Shakespearean scope, though its near-four-hour runtime tests patience. Critics praise the stunning stagecraft and faithful storytelling that finally gives fans satisfying answers.
This show has closed. Tickets are no longer available.
Critic Scorecard
18 reviews7 Rave
9 Positive
2 Mixed
Sort:
Weighted by outlet tier · Counts
- Tier 1: 100%
- Tier 2: 75%
- Tier 3: 40%
- Tier 4: 20%
“It’s a triumph; a soaring, surging spectacle and a latter-day history play, both serious and popular.” WhatsOnStage Staff, Aug 9 · 5/5 stars
“Magnificent in scale, exhilarating in execution and emotionally absorbing from first scene to last, this is event theatre in the truest sense of the phrase: a production that not only meets the enormous expectations surrounding it but surpasses them.” By Paul Wilcox, Aug 8
“The Mad King is a triumphant tragedy that perfectly captures the spirit of George R.R. Martin’s work and transposes it to a new medium...” By Federica Bocco, Aug 9
“Judging it on its own merits transforms The Mad King into a masterpiece of pure Shakespearean art, rather than a prequel to a once-great-now-middling fantasy TV series.” By Aimee Hart, Aug 9
