Game Of Thrones: The Mad King Reviews Call London Play ‘Epic’

Based on George R R Martin’s books, the new play The Mad King serves as a direct prequel to the original award-winning fantasy drama, set around a decade before it begins, and featuring many of the same characters.

Its opening night took place over the weekend at London’s iconic Globe theatre, with performances scheduled for the next month – and for the most part, critics have been pretty taken with this latest addition to the Westeros universe.

The Mad King has received a smattering of four- and even five-star reviews, with critics praising the play’s production and dramatic tone.

Here’s a selection of what’s been said about Game Of Thrones: The Mad King so far…

“This feels like a five-star production for most devoted throners but a three-star for those who haven’t seen the TV series. Thereby, to channel this show’s infectious tones, the Judging One has trod a path between those stellar prophecies.

“[An] epic theatrical experience […] The Royal Shakespeare Company’s stellar stage show has all the thrillingly staged battles, gory deaths and, yes, dragons that the most bloodthirsty fan could hope for. But there’s also a surprising amount of heart – of the warm, still-beating kind – as it lingers on the faces of its fallen.”

“A remarkable achievement, wonderfully directed by [Dominic] Cooke and superbly acted by every member of the 35-strong ensemble. The result is a brilliant exhibition of how theatre can create magic.

“It’s a clarion call for the power of imagination and skill in telling stories for the ages, making a room filled with others into an entire world.”

“There is a lot to please fans here, with throwaway lines foreshadowing things to come, and lore tidbits designed for dissection on those aforementioned Reddit threads. But there’s also a more universally appealing tale under the surface, of how we choose between love and duty, how the personal bleeds into the political, and how we cope when life doesn’t turn out the way we planned.

“Sometimes The Mad King makes these points with all the subtlety of Robert’s warhammer, but it has the storytelling ambition to win over even the most diehard of dragon sceptics.”

“[Playwright Duncan] Macmillan and Cooke do a decent job of juggling the sizeable number of characters, and ensure the sprawling narrative is largely well-paced, with enough sub-plots and spectacle to keep both hardcore and lesser-engaged fans entertained.

“The cast’s performances are solid too, while the emergence of the iconic Iron Throne in Act II earns a scene-stealing cheer from the audience.”

“The RSC has pulled off a coup by unveiling a gripping prequel to Game of Thrones […] It’s not up there, yet, with the Harry Potter or Stranger Things prequels but, on balance, the Game Of Thrones franchise has yet another worthwhile and lucrative spin-off on its hands.”

“As pure visual spectacle, this is great fun, with excellent oversized puppet horses and a red-eyed dragon, ceaseless grunting swordplay and, crucially, an interval.

“While The Mad King sometimes veers towards the risibly cod-historical, this is by no means a cynical exercise in fan-baiting, but rather a heartfelt addition to Martin’s canon.”

“If Dominic Cooke’s stolid production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre gives hardcore GoT fans a chance to go hunting for ‘Easter eggs’, it seldom comes close to matching the grim aura of the TV series […] there are more than enough GoT devotees to keep the box office ticking over for the rest of eternity, but only the most dedicated of them will have the energy for this marathon.”

Game Of Thrones: The Mad King is playing at London’s Globe Theatre until 5 September.