Ticket Holders Enraged Over Sudden Cancellations of “Game of Thrones: The Mad King” Previews in the UK
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, a string of last-minute cancellations of preview performances for the stage play “Game of Thrones: The Mad King” by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) at Stratford has sparked severe backlash and outrage among ticket holders and international travelers.
Under the original schedule, previews for the theatrical adaptation were set to begin on July 20, leading up to an official opening night on August 8. However, the RSC initially canceled all first-week preview performances, citing the “immense scale and technical complexity of the production” alongside “unforeseen delays.” Although the company assured audiences the following day that the Saturday evening show (July 25) would go ahead as planned, it abruptly canceled that performance as well, issuing a statement just hours before curtain-up.
The decision triggered a wave of frustration across social media and Reddit, as many theatergoers had traveled to Stratford from various cities and even abroad, incurring hefty non-refundable expenses for hotels and transportation. While the RSC confirmed that full ticket refunds are being processed, rebooking is virtually impossible for affected fans, given that all remaining performances through the end of the season on September 5 are entirely sold out.
Written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, “The Mad King” serves as a prequel to George R.R. Martin’s acclaimed saga. The play dramatizes the events surrounding the Tourney at Harrenhal, the escalating madness of King Aerys II (The Mad King), and the outbreak of Robert’s Rebellion, which ultimately brought down House Targaryen.
