Game of Thrones: The Mad King cancellations anger UK ticket buyers
The RSC canceled another preview in Stratford-upon-Avon and says affected audiences will receive automatic refunds, with the run sold out.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Game of Thrones: The Mad King cancellations have left some UK ticket holders angry after the Royal Shakespeare Company called off another preview performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The stage production, officially titled George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King, had been scheduled to begin previews on July 20 ahead of an August 8 opening. Its limited run is due to end September 5.
Deadline reported that the RSC had already canceled the first week of previews without giving a specific reason. Variety reported Friday that RSC sources said the Saturday, July 25 performance was still expected to go ahead. On Saturday morning, the company announced on Instagram that the July 25 preview at 7:15 p.m. had also been canceled.
In its Instagram statement, the RSC said the decision came after considering the available options, apologized for the disruption and said affected audience members would receive full automatic refunds, including fees.
Why were Game of Thrones: The Mad King performances canceled?
The RSC has not publicly given a specific explanation for the cancellations, according to Deadline. The company has said only that canceling performances is a difficult decision and that refunds will be issued automatically to affected ticket buyers.
That has not cooled frustration among some fans who had planned trips around the previews. On a Reddit thread about the cancellations, one user said they had already booked hotels and travel and called the situation unacceptable. Another Reddit commenter, identified as MikeyButch17, said they believed the tickets were not clearly labeled as preview performances when originally booked and said they had been allowed to rebook for the now-canceled July 25 show.
A separate Reddit user, el_palmo42, said they had checked into a Stratford hotel shortly before receiving the cancellation email.
Rebooking may be a dead end for many affected buyers. Deadline reported that the RSC ticket page showed all performances through the September 5 closing date as sold out.
There has been no official announcement on whether later performances will also be canceled.
What is Game of Thrones: The Mad King about?
The Mad King is a stage prequel tied to George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones world. According to the official synopsis cited by Deadline, the story is set at Harrenhal as winter begins to lift, with a banquet before a jousting tournament giving way to intrigue around the rule of the Mad King.
The play draws on the Robert’s Rebellion backstory from Martin’s books. That lore involves Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, son of King Aerys, falling in love with Lyanna Stark, whose betrothal to Robert Baratheon helps ignite the rebellion that brings down House Targaryen.
When the production was announced, RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey described it as a large-scale theatrical collaboration. The creative team includes writer Duncan Macmillan and director Dominic Cooke, with Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell handling puppetry and movement design, Chloe Lamford on set design, Georgia McGuinness on costumes, Jon Clark on lighting, Will Stuart composing and Tom Gibbons on sound.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.