English actor knighted for services to drama
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.
A Fra Fee-led writer grapples with the legend of Liberace in a meta-stage piece at Pitlochry, where Simon Russell Beale’s Liberace and a flamboyant production set the tone. The show examines sexuality, lie and performance, while a longer Wallace musical and a new Play, Pie and Pint piece provide counterpoints on history and memory.