Game of Thrones, Adapted from the story of George R. R. Martin by Duncan MacMillan, RSC, RST: Stratford Upon Avon | until 05 September 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by Roderick Dungate

Photo credit: - Johan Persson

Game of Thrones

Adapted from the story of George R. R. Martin by Duncan MacMillan

RSC, RST: Stratford Upon Avon

Runs: 3h 40m; one interval, till 05 September 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by Roderick Dungate

AD Performance15 August 2026

“Great spectacle – but is there more?”

Bold choice of the RSC to stage and adaptation of George R. R. Marton’s run-away TV success, Game of Thrones. There is great popular taste for these huge saga-type tales – Lord of the Rings, Earthsea, Discworld and so on; we thrill to the fights for power , for love, for succession, and love the idea of the magic of dragons and so on. These transfer excellently to film and television. None more so than Game of Thrones; in these mediums they have, as in print, space to breathe. But it is a different story presenting them in live theatre.

The RSC choice to attempt this, then, is a bold one. Thrones’ tales of desire to be top dog fit naturally with many of the renaissance  plays that are the backbone of RSC programme. The company has the technical know-how, too; the armoury, costuming, wigs, scenery and more.

All of this comes brilliantly to the fore in this production. The setting is as massive and daunting as the power struggles within the tale; the wars for power between the seven great Houses. Battles, jousts, tortures are superbly presented. Wonderful puppet work enables us to use our imaginations to extra fill the acting space. Will Stuart’s marvellous metallic, martial score underpins and supports it all.

So far, so very good.

Where this work comes a cropper is in the script itself. There is just too much story, too many characters not well introduced, too many crossings and double crossings all squeezed into too small a space of time for us to, not just follow, but more importantly for us to engage or empathise with.

Moreover, the work is so eager to get through the narrative that there is hardly any space for acting that draws us in. Performances tend to the declamatory which rather pushes us away.

There are some excellent moments when things quieten down, for instance between Rhaegar and Lyanna, and between Lyanna and Robert. But these are too few. The script occasionally drops into a phoney antique language (eg ‘twas, or mayhap) which is irritating.

Dominic Cooke demonstrates he is fully in command of his production and mines it for all its thrills.

Although, at the end of the day, this vessel feels emptyish, it is much greater than just making the most noise. It is a thoroughly enjoyable, live spectacle.

Cast

Michael Abubakar – Eddard Stark

Elizabeth Ayodele – Princess Elia Martell

Maxim Ays – Ser Jaime Lannister

Miles Barrow – Benjen Stark

Islam Bouakkaz – Howland Reed

Luke Brakey – Brandon Stark

Marty Breen – Catelyn Stark

Sebastian Charles – Owen Merryweather

Adrian Christopher – Prince Lewyn Martell

Ronan Cullen – On-stage swing/Puppeteer

Fred Davis – Qarlton Chelsted/Maester

Edam-Ita Duke – Oberyn Martell

Simi Egbejumi-David – Ensemble/Puppeteer

Daisy Franks – Cersei Lannister/Golda Whent

Mariah Gale – Queen Rhaella Targaryen/Lady Shella Whent

Richard Hansell – Grand Maester Pycelle

Daniel Hawksford – Ser Barristan Selmy

Lewis Howard – Ensemble/Puppeteer

April Nerissa Hudson – Ensemble Puppeteer

Tom Larkin – Lord Whent-Wisdom Rossart

Chelsea Marie – Ensemble/Puppeteer

Kel Matsena – Ser Arthur Dayne

Shaun Yusuf McKee – Ser Gerold Hightower

Alexander Newland – Lord Rickard Stark

Hughie O’Donnell – Lord Varys

Huw Parmenter – Ser Oswell Whent

Hoah Ritter – Prince Rhaegar Targaryen

Harmony Rose-Bremner – Lyanna Stark

Kate Roswell – On-stage swing-Puppeteer

Michael Shaeffer – King Aerys II Targaryen

Tanisha Spring – Ashara Dayne

Tom Stacy – On-stage swing/Puppeteer

Matt Tait – Ensemble/Puppeteer

Tzarina-Nassor - Ensemble/Puppeteer

Marcello Walton – Ser Jonothor Darry/Lord Tywin Lannister

Callum Woodhouse – Lord Robert Baratheon

Griffin Ashton/Beckett Mitchell/Henry Gray – Prince Viserys Targaryen

Creatives

Creator R.R. Martin

Adaptor – Duncan MacMillan

Director – Dominic Cooke

Puppetry & Movement – Nick Barnes/Finn Caldwell

Set – Chloe Lamford

Costumes – Georgia McGuinness

Lighting – Jon Clark

Composer – Will Stuart

Sound – Tom Gibbons

Audio Describers – Lorna Heap/Adam Snaith