Game of Thrones: The Mad King review
Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon This prequel to the TV series has one joust after another, spectacular stagecraft and plenty of modern resonance
TL;DR
- The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) stages "The Mad King," a prequel to "Game of Thrones" focusing on King Aerys II Targaryen.
- The production draws inspiration from Shakespeare's history plays, with visual and thematic parallels to King Lear.
- It features spectacular stagecraft, including jousts, battles, puppetry for creatures, and striking set design with fire and dry ice effects.
- The play explores modern political resonance, referencing the instability of heads of state and international crises.
- Performances include actors portraying younger versions of familiar "Game of Thrones" characters like Eddard Stark and Jaime Lannister.
- The production faces the challenge of matching HBO's visual effects and aims to attract new audiences and income for the RSC.
- The play is considered a five-star production for devoted "Game of Thrones" fans but potentially a three-star for those unfamiliar with the series.