Public figure series: a high-fantasy epic by George R. R. Martin
The Royal Shakespeare Company has opened The Mad King, a Game of Thrones prequel, in Stratford-upon-Avon. The 3h45m production brings younger versions of familiar figures to the stage with a 36-strong cast and innovative puppetry. Reviews are mixed on pace and poetry, but the project aims to broaden GoT’s reach beyond devoted fans.
Damascus stories study a city caught between the collapse of the Assad regime and a new, fragile order. The collection records fear, memory and shifting power as residents navigate a transformed urban landscape.