Express.co.uk
·Aug 2026
Game of Thrones: The Mad King review – George R.R. Martin’s prequel debuts at the RSC
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King offers an immersive, visually spectacular prequel set 17 years before the television saga, featuring elaborate staging, puppetry, jousting and battle sequences. The production is praised for its atmosphere, performances—particularly those of Elizabeth Ayodele, Mariah Gale and Michael Abubakar—and Martin’s exploration of human nature, complicity and modern despotism. However, the adaptation is weakened by heavy exposition, portentous Shakespearean delivery, uneven pacing, extravagant costumes and an almost four-hour running time.