Will GAME OF THRONES: THE MAD KING transfer to London?

Written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, this prequel play to the HBO hit series Game of Thrones, based on George R R Martin's bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire books, takes place over a decade before the events of Game of Thrones, and tells the story of the fateful string of events that would trigger Robert Baratheon's rebellion and the fall of the Targaryen dynasty. The great houses of Westeros gather at a grand tournament in Harrenhal, where celebration turns to suspicion and whispers of treason begin to fly around King Aerys's inner circle.

The Mad King opened to critical acclaim, rave reviews, and delights from fans of Martin's epic story at the chance to see familiar characters like Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, Rhaegar Targaryen, and Lyanna Stark in a brand new light onstage, and revisit the deadly, fantastic world of Westeros through the magic of theatre. The Telegraph called it "a spellbinding spectacle that serves GOT newbies and devotees", while the Guardian praised it as "action packed, spectacular stagecraft and plenty of modern resonance."

With such a successful premiere and so much hype around the franchise, which has spawned two more prequel television series, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it's not a stretch to predict that The Mad King may see a London transfer in the near future. Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but with the play due to conclude its run in Stratford-upon-Avon next week, we could be primed for an announcement sometime soon.

Which London venue could this large-scale, expensive production land in? It's anyone's guess, but there have been speculations that point to the brand-new Troubadour Greenwich Peninsula Theatre currently under construction and due to open its doors by the end of the year. With two 1,500 seater auditoriums, this venue would be apt to host an epic and dynamic show like The Mad King, with its 35-strong cast and dragon puppets. Fittingly, its sister theatre, the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, is the current home of another stage adaptation of a blockbuster franchise, The Hunger Games: On Stage.

One of the biggest criticisms of the show was its four hour runtime and somewhat cluttered storytelling, so a London transfer could also involve a reworking of the show into a more condensed form, which would mean it would take slightly longer for it to hit the stages. Either way, we'd be hopeful for a 2027 London premiere.

With no official word from the RSC or HBO, London-based Game of Thrones fans can only keep their fingers crossed. Watch this space for more details as and when they unfold!