The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced the full 36-member cast for “Game of Thrones: The Mad King,” with Michael Shaeffer set to play King Aerys II Targaryen, per variety.com.
The world premiere opens at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on August 8 and runs through September 5.
Adapted by Duncan Macmillan from George R. R. Martin’s novels, the play is set in the years before the books and explores ambition, family bonds and succession during the reign of the Mad King. Martin serves as executive producer and creator.
Noah Ritter will play Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Harmony Rose-Bremner has been cast as Lyanna Stark, with Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark and Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon. Luke Brady plays Brandon Stark, Alexander Newland is Lord Rickard Stark and Miles Barrow portrays Benjen Stark.
Mariah Gale appears as Queen Rhaella Targaryen and Lady Shella Whent. Marcello Walton will play both Ser Jonothor Darry and Lord Tywin Lannister. Further cast includes Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister, Daisy Franks as Cersei Lannister, Edem-Ita Duke as Oberyn Martell and Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell.
Hughie O’Donnell plays Lord Varys, Kel Matsena is Ser Arthur Dayne, Daniel Hawksford portrays Ser Barristan Selmy and Richard Hansell appears as Grand Maester Pycelle. The ensemble also features Marty Breen, Tanisha Spring, Islam Bouakkaz, Adrian Christopher and others in named and swing roles.
Director Dominic Cooke said the team was “exceptional” and he was “delighted to return to the RSC” to bring Macmillan’s script and Martin’s world to the stage. Martin added: “I love this cast, they bring all the strengths, flaws and intricacies within these characters that drive this important chapter of Westerosi history.”
The creative team includes set designer Chloe Lamford, costume designer Georgia McGuinness and lighting designer Jon Clark. Casting is by Amy Ball.
“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.
The production is the first stage adaptation of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire universe. It focuses on the events leading to Robert’s Rebellion, a conflict central to the backstory of HBO’s Game of Thrones series.
•Featured image by Johan Persson (c) RSC
