Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Set in fictional Hawkins in 1959, Stranger Things: The First Shadow comes to Phoenix Theatre for its first theatrical production as a prequel to Netflix’s popular 1980s science fiction horror drama.  

Kenz and I had a rare kid-free Sunday afternoon as Lady Yeya was at her BFF’s 6th birthday day out at Bubble Experience.  What shall we do then? Cinema, lunch, walk? Let’s go see a West End play. 

Netflix’s Stranger Things

Excited for our day date, we went to see the theatre production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow.  As kids of the 80s, we are big fans of Netflix’s sci-fi horror Stranger Things. Produced by The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things is set in the 1980s in a fictional small town of Hawkins, Indiana who encounters paranormal and supernatural activities. Experimentation of human subjects with psychokinetic powers at the nearby Hawkins National Laboratory inadvertently opens a portal to an alternate dimension known as the Upside Down. It terrorises the residents of Hawkins with horror and evil. Four seasons later, Stranger Things: The First Shadow comes to the West End theatre as a prequel. 

Curtains Up: The First Shadow

The lights dim, curtains up, theme song plays – a big welcome applause by the packed audience inside the Phoenix Theatre. As a prequel, this play takes place in 1959 in Hawkins, Indiana where we meet the young Joyce, Hopper, Ted Walker and others. Horrific events start happening when psionic-abled Henry Creel, later known as Vecna, and his family move to Hawkins for a fresh start. Hawkins encounters “the first shadow” in the alternate dimension of the Upside Down world. 

Special Effects: Set Design, Visual and Sound Effects

Well done to the team behind the set design, visual, and sound effects. All these special effects were all the above: stellar, impressive, amazing, mind-blowing. It was spectacular! The set design shifts from a high school hall to a clinical white laboratory to the Creel house seamlessly. The visual effects using modern technology with holograms, illusions, flashing lights and strobe-effects was world class. Equally, the sound and other effects including haze and smoke adds drama and suspense, sending chills down the spine aided with loud noises for jump effects. An amazing stagecraft using every trick in the theatrical playbook to create the appropriate mood and atmosphere. At some points, actors in hazmats walked down the aisles and even Henry Creel ran off the stage.

Amazing Acting by the Ensemble Cast

The acting was superb with an ensemble cast playing teens, parents, doctors, and naval officers.  Young Joyce (Isabella Pappas) sounds and acts just like Winona Ryder’s character though she looks more like Nancy Wheeler with her 80s crimped hair. Heartthrob and mischievous Hopper Junior (Oscar Lloyd), who like his father later becomes the Police Chief, was amazing on stage. As the main antagonist, Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) pivoted convincingly from weirdo teenager to a demonic villain with ease. He is diminutive in size, like a gymnast, but has a big presence especially in the hospital. As his professional stage debut, McCartney is impressive. 

An afternoon in Hawkins, Indiana

We didn’t hop on a transatlantic flight to Indiana, but the production set of Stranger Things: The Last Shadow made us feel like we spent the afternoon in Hawkins, Indiana, thrown into the abyss that is the Upside Down world.  A fantastic production with brilliant acting, excellent stagecraft and excellent use of audio-visual effects! Now on to finishing up season four before Netflix releases Season 5. 

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is playing at the Phoenix Theatre until 16 February 2025.