10 Characters We Will Definitely See in Game of Thrones: The Mad King

We’re getting a new Game of Thrones stage play this summer from the Royal Shakespeare Company based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, and this performance, aptly named Game of Thrones: The Mad King, will focus on the tourney at Harrenhal that leads to Robert’s Rebellion.

While the cast lineup has yet to be announced, Martin already gave a clue as to which characters will be present during the play. On his website, Not A Blog, he wrote a post mentioning the participants of the tournament, so expect these 10 major characters to show up at the premiere and throughout its entire run.

1 Aerys II Targaryen: The Mad King Before His Downfall

During the tourney at Harrenhal, Aerys II was already becoming unstable and paranoid. He believed many of the great lords in Westeros were secretly planning against him and wanted his son, Rhaegar Targaryen, to replace him as king. Instead of enjoying the celebration, Aerys spent much of the event suspicious and afraid of everyone around him.

Some of the attendees were shocked to see the king’s physical decline, even noticing how different he had become, which made the atmosphere even more tense. This tourney was a clear sign that the Mad King was already losing control of the realm even before the rebellion started.

2 Rhaegar Targaryen: The Prophesied Prince’s Tragedy

At the tourney, Rhaegar defeated many skilled knights and won the final match, becoming the champion of the joust. However, the atmosphere changed when he named Lyanna Stark the queen of love and beauty and gave her the crown of blue winter roses instead of his wife, Elia Martell.

The prince’s decision turned the tournament from a celebration into the beginning of the tragedy that would eventually destroy House Targaryen. This was seen as scandalous because Rhaegar was already married to Elia of Dorne, while Lyanna was betrothed to Robert Baratheon.

3 Lyanna Stark: The Beauty That Launched a Rebellion

Lyanna attended the tourney together with her family. She was known for her strong personality and wild northern spirit, but this wasn’t the reason she became the talk of the town after the event. When Rhaegar presented her the laurel of blue winter roses, it wasn’t only a shocking moment, but it also set the motion for a bloody revolt.

Her alleged abduction by Rhaegar triggered a chain of events that led to Robert’s Rebellion and the eventual fall of House Targaryen. Even after the uprising ended, the Stark girl remained missing, although we know that Ned found her in the Tower of Joy and on the verge of death.

4 Robert Baratheon: The Young Lord of Storm’s End

Robert was one of the attendees and competitors during the tourney, in which he took part in the melee and fought fiercely. The Lord of Storm’s End was known as one of the strongest warriors of his time, but that controversial sight of Rhaegar crowning Lyanna embarrassed and angered him.

His personal heartbreak turned into a war that shook the entire Westeros. He united rebel lords and led the fight against Aerys II and Rhaegar; his victory eventually made him king, placing him on the Iron Throne after the fall of House Targaryen.

5 Eddard Stark: The Quiet & Honorable Warden of the North

Eddard was also at the tourney, though he was not there to seek attention or glory, but to support his brother Brandon and his friend Robert. He was described as very shy and quiet, but fans know him more for his honorable and dutiful nature.

Like everyone else, he also witnessed the controversial scene that transpired after the joust. Little did Ned know that he was already standing at the center of events that would lead him to war, where he would make a very crucial decision not only for his family but also for the good of the realm.

6 Brandon Stark: The Wild Wolf of Winterfell

The complete opposite of Ned, Brandon was known for his fiery personality, confidence, and quick temper. He attended the tourney with the rest of House Stark and was already engaged to Catelyn Stark at the time.

He had a darker twist of fate during the rebellion, which we will likely see portrayed in the stage play. That tension at the tourney became even more important later when Lyanna disappeared with Rhaegar. Brandon’s furious reaction led him to ride to King’s Landing and demand that the prince should “come out and die,” a decision that ultimately led to his execution by the Mad King himself.

7 Elia Martell: The Dornish Princess, Rhaegar’s Lady Wife

What would have been a great celebration turned into an act of betrayal and a prelude to a tragic nightmare after Elia witnessed her husband, Rhaegar, dedicate his win to Lyanna. This public humiliation caused rumors, although she remained silent about it.

Elia and her children were among the unfortunate victims of the rebellion. Aerys II kept them as hostages until Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch killed them. In the TV series, the Mountain confessed to his crime during his duel with Prince Oberyn Martell, so the play might show us what exactly happened to the Dornish princess.

8 Barristan Selmy: The Last True Knight of the Kingsguard

As a member of the Kingsguard serving Aerys II, Barristan attended the event as both a royal protector and a legendary warrior. He was one of the finest knights of the Seven Kingdoms, and so he planned to name Ashara Dayne queen of love and beauty if he won the tournament. Unfortunately, he was unhorsed by Rhaegar.

Barristan mused on whether he could have prevented the rebellion had he successfully defeated Rhaegar, which actually makes a lot of sense. Hopefully, the play will provide more insights from him and from other characters about what they think of the bloody war that happened after the tourney at Harrenhal.

9 Arthur Dayne: The Legendary Sword of the Morning

The famed knight Arthur Dayne was one of the participants during the event. He was a member of Aerys II’s Kingsguard and was considered the most chivalrous warrior in the Seven Kingdoms. Many expected an intense match from him and Rhaegar, and while he did perform valiantly, the prince won the joust.

A semi-canon source revealed that he aided Rhaegar in the abduction of Lyanna near Harrenhal. After the rebellion was over, Ned found him and the other knights at the Tower of Joy. A fierce fight followed, and Dayne was killed in the battle.

10 Jon Arryn: The Hand of the King Who Called the Banners

Jon Arryn was one of the tourney’s attendees, who, at the time, was also the foster father of Ned and Robert. After the kidnapping of Lyanna, Jon’s nephew, Elbert Arryn, accompanied Brandon and other knights to King’s Landing to confront Rhaegar. Aerys II had them all killed, including Jon’s nephew.

The king demanded that Jon execute his wards, Ned and Robert, but he refused and instead raised his banners in revolt. This was the beginning of the rebellion. Jon participated in the Battle of the Trident, during which Robert killed Rhaegar. In the aftermath of the war, when Robert ascended the Iron Throne, he appointed Jon as his Hand.

Which characters do you wish to see in the upcoming stage play? Let us know in the comments!

Attendees	Descriptions
Aerys II Targaryen	The Mad King, father of Prince Rhaegar
Rhaegar Targaryen	Prince of Dragonstone, crown prince for the Iron Throne
Lyanna Stark	Sister of Eddard & Brandon
Robert Baratheon	Lord of Storm’s End, leader of Robert’s Rebellion
Eddard Stark	Warden of the North, close friend of Robert
Brandon Stark	Older brother of Ned, heir to Winterfell before Robert’s Rebellion
Elia Martell	Dornish princess, wife of Rhaegar
Barristan Selmy	Member of the Kingsguard, one of the knights who participated in the joust
Arthur Dayne	Sword of the Morning, another knight who participated in the joust
Jon Arryn	Revolted against House Targaryen, became Robert’s Hand

Game of Thrones: The Mad King premieres at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on August 8, 2026.