Update, with new RSC statement: Ticket holders for UK theatrical productions Game of Thrones: The Mad King Angry at the last-minute cancellation of a week’s worth of pre-shows at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon.
“Booking hotels and paying for travel is completely unacceptable,” one Reddit user wrote. on subreddit “Total Smoking at the RSC” is dedicated to the latest developments. “They’re now offering us the chance to rebook, with nothing available for the remaining tour. What a sick joke.”
The new play is officially titled George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad Kingpreviews were scheduled to begin on July 20, with an opening date of August 8 and closing on September 5. Stratford-upon-Avon is a two-hour drive from London.
But after the Royal Shakespeare Company canceled the first week of advance screenings, the RSC told Variety Friday that tonight’s performance, July 25, remains on track.
But that was yesterday. This morning the RSC posted an announcement on Instagram that tonight’s performance has also been cancelled. “We have made the difficult decision to cancel the preview performance of,” the announcement read George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King This evening (Saturday, July 25 at 7:15 p.m.).
“The decision to cancel shows is always a challenge and is only made after careful consideration of all available options. We realize how disappointing this may be to fans and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.
“All affected members of the public will receive a full and automatic refund including any fees paid.”
In a statement provided to Deadline today, the RSC adds: “While we always work hard to avoid disappointment by canceling performances, given the ambitious and epic nature of this production and facing a number of unexpected delays, we need additional time to deliver Game of Thrones: The Mad King For a general audience. The decision to cancel Saturday’s preview screening was only made after careful consideration of all available options.
Ticket holders hoping to rebook their attendance are likely out of luck: the show Ticket page Indicates that all showings through the closing date of September 5 are sold out.
On the subreddit, commenters who said they had preview tickets were angry. “When we originally booked tickets, they didn’t mention a performance preview!” Reddit user MikeyButch17 wrote today. “This is the most outrageous thing. They also let us rebook for tonight, after promising the person on the phone that the show would go on regardless. What a joke!”
el_palmo42 replied: “In exactly the same situation!” “I just checked into our hotel in Stratford and then I got the email.”
There’s no official word yet on whether the other shows will be cancelled.
The crazy king It is a prequel, according to its official synopsis, set in Harrenhal as the long winter begins to thaw. “At a lavish banquet on the eve of a jousting tournament, lovers gather and revelers speculate on who will compete. But in the shadows, amid growing anxiety over the bloodthirsty actions of the mad, ruthless king in the kingdom, dissidents from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot. And far away, the drums of battle beat. Family ties, ancient prophecies, and the sacred line of succession will be tested in a dangerous push for power. Who will survive?
The play is inspired by the “Robert’s Rebellion” lore from Martin’s sprawling book series, in which married prince Rhaegar Targaryen, son of the Mad King Aerys, falls in love with Lyanna Stark and runs away with her. This leads to a rebellion led by Robert Baratheon, who is betrothed to Lyanna. The rebellion succeeded in deposing the Mad King, leading to the downfall of the Targaryens.
When the production was announced, RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey described the show as a “theatrical spectacle” that represented an “ambitious and exhilarating collaboration”. Members of the creative team are puppet and stunt designers Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (of Loom), set designer Chloe Lamford, costume designer Georgia McGuinness, lighting designer John Clarke, composer Will Stewart and sound designer Tom Gibbons. Duncan Macmillan (Everything is great) is the writer, and Dominic Cooke is the director.
