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George R.R. Martin’s New ‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel Debuts to Critical Acclaim
George R.R. Martin's new stage production, Game of Thrones: The Mad King, has begun previews at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, opening on 28 July after days of turmoil that saw its first four performances cancelled. Despite the Royal Shakespeare Company's insistence that the ambitious production would go ahead, further disruption followed before the show finally reached the stage, with its first complete performance reportedly receiving a standing ovation.
Director Dominic Cooke addressed audiences before the performance to explain the behind-the-scenes issues that had caused the earlier cancellations, according to Deadline. The successful debut marks a turnaround for the Westeros prequel just five days after reports first emerged that the production had suffered a major setback, easing concerns that the ambitious project might struggle to get off the ground.
In short
- Mad King previews began 28 July after earlier performances were cancelled
- First full show reportedly received a standing ovation
- Director Dominic Cooke explained the earlier behind-the-scenes disruption
Explained simply
George R.R. Martin is the American author of the Game of Thrones fantasy novels, which became a worldwide phenomenon through a hugely successful HBO television adaptation. The books are set in the fictional world of Westeros and depict power struggles between noble families competing for control of the iron throne.
The Royal Shakespeare Company is staging a theatrical adaptation of a Game of Thrones prequel at its theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. This production, titled The Mad King, is set in an earlier era of Westeros.
The production encountered significant difficulties before opening, with performances cancelled in the days leading up to the premiere. These disruptions had initially raised questions about whether the ambitious project would be able to proceed.