The Royal Shakespeare Company canceled the Game of Thrones: The Mad King preview performance scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at 7:15 pm, and said everyone affected would get a full automatic refund, including fees. It was the latest disruption to a run that was already under strain after the company canceled the first week of previews.
That matters now because the production had been set to start previews on July 20, open on August 8 and close on September 5, leaving ticket holders with a shrinking set of options as the run moved forward. The show’s ticket page indicated performances through the closing date were sold out, which meant rebooking was not likely to offer much relief even for those who wanted to stay with the production.
The company said the decision was made after careful consideration and blamed the need for additional time on the show’s ambitious and epic nature, along with a number of unforeseen delays. In a separate statement, it said the cancellation of Saturday’s preview was only made after weighing all available options. For a production meant to reach the public quickly, the explanation pointed to a larger problem: the run was not yet ready, and the calendar was already moving.
That gap between the official line and what some ticket holders were told fueled the anger online. On Reddit, MikeyButch17 said they had booked hotels and paid for travel, then were offered a chance to rebook with 0 availability for the remaining run. The user also said the original tickets did not say Preview Performances and said they had been allowed to rebook after being told on the phone that the performance would go ahead regardless. Another Reddit user, el_palmo42, said they had just checked into a hotel in Stratford when the cancellation email arrived.
The immediate question is whether July 25 was the last of the damage or the start of more cancellations. So far, no official word has been given on any further changes, but the combination of sold-out performances, missed preview dates and frustrated ticket holders suggests the company has little room left to absorb another setback before Game of Thrones: The Mad King reaches its scheduled opening.
