25 November 2025
Newsdesk
The supernatural thrills of Hawkins, Indiana, are set to continue as Stranger Things: The First Shadow celebrates its second year thrilling audiences at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End. To mark the milestone, Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions have released stunning new production images and announced a major extension, with the show now booking through 31 May 2026.
The announcement arrives just as anticipation ramps up for the highly awaited fifth and final season of the global hit Netflix series, Stranger Things. The stage production, which serves as a compelling prequel, has firmly established itself as a must-see event, giving fans a deeper look into the origins of the mythology that defines the series.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a gripping, stand-alone adventure that transports the audience back to 1959 Hawkins. The central question the play explores is: are monsters born, or made? The story follows the Creel family's arrival in town, particularly the teenage son, Henry Creel, as he desperately tries to outrun a troubled history. Though he initially finds friends and a place in the school play, a terrifying wave of crimes forces Henry to confront a haunting possibility: that a darkness within him connects him to the horrors gripping Hawkins.
This thrilling mystery tests relationships and unleashes shadows of the past, challenging the town to determine if the power of friendship can truly outshine the inner darkness.
The production boasts a massive cast of 32 performers, including Jack Christou as Henry Creel, Stewart Clarke as Dr. Brenner, and Edie Wright as Joyce Maldonado. The play is based on an original story by The Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Kate Trefry, with Trefry also penning the script. It is directed by the visionary Stephen Daldry, with co-direction by Justin Martin, leading a world-class creative team to deliver a production lauded for its suspense and spectacle.
With the West End run extended, audiences have plenty of time to experience the heart-pounding excitement of this origin story before the Netflix series concludes.
