The Royal Shakespeare Company has unveiled a 36-strong cast for the play “Game of Thrones: The Mad King,” with Michael Shaeffer in the title role of King Aerys II Targaryen.
The world premiere of the new play, adapted by Duncan Macmillan from George R. R. Martin’s novels, opens at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on Aug. 8 and runs through Sept. 5. Set in the years before the events of Martin’s novels, the production follows the great houses of Westeros as ambition, family bonds and succession collide during the reign of the Mad King.
Noah Ritter plays Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, with Harmony Rose-Bremner as Lyanna Stark, Michael Abubakar as Eddard Stark and Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon. Luke Brady takes the role of Brandon Stark alongside Alexander Newland as Lord Rickard Stark and Miles Barrow as Benjen Stark. Mariah Gale appears as Queen Rhaella Targaryen and Lady Shella Whent, with Marcello Walton doubling as Ser Jonothor Darry and Lord Tywin Lannister.
Further casting sees Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister, Daisy Franks as Cersei Lannister, Edem-Ita Duke as Oberyn Martell, Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell and Hughie O’Donnell as Lord Varys. Kel Matsena plays Ser Arthur Dayne, Daniel Hawksford takes Ser Barristan Selmy, and Richard Hansell appears as Grand Maester Pycelle. Marty Breen is cast as Catelyn Stark, Tanisha Spring as Ashara Dayne and Islam Bouakkaz as Howland Reed.
