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<\/p>\nThere’s a tournament coming\u00a0 this summer.<\/p>\n
Lord Whent is hosting it, from his seat at Harrenhal, the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms.\u00a0 It looks to be a grand event, Rhaegar Targaren will be on hand, the Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne.\u00a0 \u00a0The Starks are coming down from Winterfell, Eddard and his brothers Brandon and Benjen and their lovely sister Lyanna.\u00a0 Her betrothed will also be on hand; Robert Baratheon, the young Lord of Storm’s End.\u00a0 \u00a0Howland Reed of Greywater Watch will attend, fresh from his visit to the Isle of Faces.\u00a0 Lord Jon Arryn will along with\u00a0 Bronze Yohn Royce, Richard Lonmouth, the Kingsguard knights Jonothor Darry, Barristan Selmy, and Arthur Dayne will be among the competitors, along with Robert Baratheon, the dashing young Lord of Storm’s End, and a monstrous knight out of the Westerlands they called the Mountain That Rides.\u00a0 \u00a0The fairest flowers of the Seven Kingdoms will attend to cheer them on, including Ashara Dayne, with her laughing purple eyes, and the Dornish beauty Elia Martell, Prince Rhaegar’s lady wife.<\/p>\n
Even the king will be there.\u00a0 \u00a0Aerys II of House Targaryen, the Mad King.<\/p>\n
I’m planning on attending myself.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You’ve been hearing about the great tourney at Harrenhal since A GAME OF THRONES\u00a0<\/em>came out in 1996.\u00a0 \u00a0Now, at long last, we’re going to show\u00a0 it to you… live, on stage, at Stratford-upon-Avon, \u00a0brought to you by the Royal Shakespeare Company.\u00a0 Having\u00a0 the RSC bring Westeros to the stage is so incredible that sometimes I fear\u00a0 am dreaming the whole thing.\u00a0 \u00a0(Yes, it goes without saying that I am a huge Shakespeare fan, and will it likely surprise no one to learn that the history plays are my favorites, and none more so than those set during the Wars of the Roses).<\/p>\n Our creative team is incredible as well.\u00a0 The\u00a0 play will be adapted by award-winner Duncan Macmillan<\/strong> (People, Places and Things<\/em>), and directed by new Almeida Theatre artistic director Dominic Cooke<\/strong> (Good<\/em>, Follies<\/em>, The Hollow Crown).\u00a0 Working with them has been has been as much a thrill as it is an honor.<\/p>\n Duncan, Dominick, and yours truly, from my visit to Stratford-upon-Avon.<\/p>\n Priority tickets will go on sale April 14, and fans wishing to attend are encouraged to sign up to become a Royal Shakespeare Company member<\/a> for updates.<\/p>\n Watch this space for further details, as plans progress.<\/p>\n Or you can follow our progress in the press, where we are getting plenty of coverage.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/georgerrmartin.com\/notablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dDme.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTHE GUARDIAN<\/b><\/div>\nFebruary 18, 2026<\/div>\n\u2018Summer is coming!\u2019: Royal Shakespeare Company to stage epic Game of Thrones prequel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nCOLLIDER<\/b><\/div>\nFebruary 18, 2026<\/div>\nGeorge R.R. Martin Expands ‘Game of Thrones’ With New Prequel About Westeros’ Most Notorious Villain<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nTHE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER<\/b><\/div>\nFebruary 18, 2026<\/div>\nGeorge R.R. Martin\u2019s \u2018Game of Thrones: The Mad King\u2019 Play to Open at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPOPVERSE<\/b><\/div>\n