Let's go back in time to a troubled era in Westeros. Robert's Rebellion has long been a popular chapter of Westerosi history among fans, and it's ripe for an adaptation. Enter Game of Thrones : The Mad King , a new stage play set to take Stratford-upon-Avon by storm (and maybe some fire and blood). Premiering at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the prequel will chronicle the volatile reign of King Aerys II Targaryen, colloquially known as the Mad King. The ensuing rebellion and the dangerous monarch's subsequent assassination lay the groundwork for George R.R. Martin 's Game of Thrones novels and the mega-hit TV show. Here's an official synopsis per the Royal Shakespeare Company : "A long winter thaws in Harrenhal, and spring is promised. At a lavish banquet on the eve of a jousting tournament, lovers meet, and revelers speculate about who will contend.…