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STRATFORD-UPON-AVON — The Kingdom of Westeros arrived in Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday night as “Game of Thrones: The Mad King” held its opening night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Fiery torches blazed outside the riverside theater, welcoming a combination of well-dressed invitees and lucky ticket-bearing fans. Everyone paused to watch the red carpet arrival of the king himself: George R. R. Martin.
The spectacle marking the advent of the first stage adaptation of Martin’s fantasy epic was tame by Hollywood standards with only a small crowd of onlookers gathering to watch a few familiar faces make an entrance, including Bertie Carvel, Sibel Kekilli and Anton Lesser, cast members from David Benioff and D. B. Weiss’ groundbreaking television adaptation, which ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019 on HBO.
The opening is significant for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, home to the Royal Shakespeare Company since 1931. “The Mad King,” a nearly 3.5-hour play adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, has been in the works for more than a decade and is based on Martin’s bestselling novels in close collaboration with the author.
Martin was in good spirits on opening night, only days after admitting online that he has “battled sadness and depression” amid a “stressful” and “overwhelming” year. He was joined by his wife, Parris McBride, and members of his family and team, many of whom donned his signature bowler hat in tribute.
“George took us to Lock and Co. Hatters, the oldest hat shop in London,” Hele Wallace, a member of Martin’s entourage, said while standing outside the theater. “He let us pick out some matching hats. Mr. Martin’s wearing his bowler tonight, and if you see someone else in the bowler they’re probably with our team.”
Janet Patten, Martin’s younger sister, flew in from New Jersey to support him. She said Martin’s wife is “a big fan of theater” and noted that the couple often attend plays, particularly when they visit New York City. For her, a theatrical adaptation of Martin’s work feels inevitable.
“It’s about time it’s coming to the stage,” she said. “The whole interaction with the audience and the energy of the night comes off so differently [than onscreen]. I know for George to actually be able to see this is important. He was on set when they were filming many of the episodes, but this is totally different. And it could be the start of a long run.”
Wallace added that Martin is “proud” to see his book series, which began with 1996’s “A Game of Thrones,” find a broader audience.
“From book to TV now to the live stage performance, it’s something George is really proud of and really excited to have more people experience,” Wallace said. “Seeing this come into fruition is like a dream come true.”
Set prior to the events of the novels and TV show, “The Mad King” expands on known Westeros lore. It opens at Harrenhal on the eve of an infamous tournament that set in motion events leading to the overthrow of King Aerys II Targaryen, the titular mad king.
Martin has spoken about a Shakespearean influence on his writing, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre was a fitting venue for the play’s debut, which felt grand in scope and staging. The theater most frequently hosts works by Shakespeare but has debuted other notable theatrical productions, including “Matilda the Musical,” which got its start at the RSC in 2010. The show played on the West End for nearly 15 years and was adapted into a Netflix film.
Jeremy Smith, a Stratford-upon-Avon local, attended “The Mad King” to support a friend working behind the scenes. He said it’s unusual for a production like this to premiere in the town.
“I came to see David Tennant in ‘Hamlet’ and there was a buzz there,” Smith said. “This is another level of glitz, but also a completely new play. It’s very suitable for the RSC because it’s so grand, but also modern and very English.”
