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The RSC unveils first cast photo from George R.R. Martin’s stage play
Developed over time first seen 3 months ago
The Royal Shakespeare Company has released the first official cast image for "The Mad King," a new stage production written by "Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin, giving audiences their first proper look at the ensemble bringing this chapter of Westerosi history to the stage. The play dramatises the downfall of King Aerys II Targaryen and the tensions that ignite Robert's Rebellion, events set decades before the original A Song of Ice and Fire novels, offering an early glimpse of a pivotal period previously only referenced in passing within the franchise.
The four-hour production, directed by Dominic Cooke, had a rocky start after several preview performances were cancelled owing to what the RSC described as unforeseen production delays. Previews resumed the following week, and the first full audience gave the show a standing ovation after Cooke addressed the crowd beforehand, suggesting the production has now settled into its run despite its troubled opening.
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In short
- RSC unveils first cast photo for Martin's "The Mad King" stage play
- Story covers Aerys II Targaryen's fall and Robert's Rebellion
- Previews resumed after delays; first audience gave standing ovation
How this story developed
- 3 months ago Further reporting reaffirmed the original timeline, confirming previews resumed within the same week rather than a week later and that the cast image and warm reception stood as first described.
- 3 months ago Coverage clarified that the cancelled previews resumed a full week later than first indicated, with commentators noting the ovation signalled the once-troubled production had finally found its footing.
- 3 months ago The Royal Shakespeare Company unveiled the first official cast photo for George R.R. Martin's "The Mad King," a four-hour stage drama chronicling Aerys II's fall and the origins of Robert's Rebellion, after preview shows were cancelled amid unexplained production delays before a subsequent audience showered the reopened run with a standing ovation.
Explained simply
The play dramatises events from decades before the Game of Thrones books and television series, focusing on the reign of the "Mad King" Aerys II Targaryen and the unrest that leads to Robert's Rebellion, a turning point in the fictional history created by author George R.R. Martin. Until now, this period had only been touched on briefly in earlier stories, so the production marks the first time it has been fully dramatised on stage.
The show is staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, one of Britain's best-known theatre companies, and is directed by Dominic Cooke. It runs to roughly four hours, reflecting the scale and detail of the story being told.
The newly released cast photograph gives the public their first look at the actors involved, ahead of the play's continuing preview performances before its official opening.
Coverage · 2 sources
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Collider as “George R.R. Martin’s New ‘Game of Thrones’ Spin-Off Reveals First Official Image”.