In London’s West End, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a play set in Hawkins in 1959 before the world was disrupted, began previews on November 17.
The full production of this original stage play is scheduled to debut at the Phoenix Theatre on December 14th. With fans eagerly awaiting its release, a number of questions have been raised, including whether it adheres to canon, which characters are involved, and what the play itself looks like aesthetically.
Crafted by an accomplished creative team with multiple awards, the enthralling new artistry offered within the adventurous journey of The First Shadow pushes the boundaries of theatrical storytelling and stagecraft.
It transports audiences back to the genesis of the Stranger Things narrative — a tale that marks both the start and the commencement of the end.
Here’s a comprehensive rundown of what we know so far.
What is Stranger Things: The First Shadow about?
Set in Hawkins in 1959, Stranger Things: The First Shadow explores events before the supernatural occurrences and mysteries that unfolded in the main series. The play delves into the backstory of the town, its characters, and the events that set the stage for the occurrences depicted in the Stranger Things series.
The storyline itself follows the Creel Family, who sought a fresh beginning in Hawkins back in 1959. Twenty-four years later, a boy goes missing, propelling his tight-knit circle of friends and relatives on a quest for answers, plunging them into a perilous sequence of events.
Beneath the town’s tranquil façade lies an extraordinary supernatural enigma, intertwined with covert government experiments and a hazardous portal linking our reality to a formidable yet malevolent realm.
Are the Duffer brothers involved in Stranger Things: The First Shadow?
The play is crafted from an original storyline by the Duffer brothers, the creative minds behind Stranger Things, along with Kate Trefry, a writer from the show, and Jack Thorne, known for scripting 2022’s Enola Holmes 2, which stars Millie Bobby Brown. Trefry is the playwright, with direction helmed by Tony Award winner Stephen Daldry, co-directed by Justin Martin, and produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions. The Duffer brothers serve as creative producers, while 21 Laps Entertainment joins as the associate producer.
The brothers said: “Expanding our world beyond the TV series is a thrilling experience and collaborating with this incredible team, led by the inspiring Stephen Daldry, is a joyous process of discovery. Bringing this new Stranger Things story to the stage, with live audiences is a prospect that we find enormously exciting, and we are delighted that a city with such a rich theater culture as London will receive the world premiere of our new story. We can’t wait to share it with you.”
Who is in the cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow?
Oscar Lloyd will be playing Jim Hopper in the play, while Isabella Pappas will play Joyce Byers, being joined by Bob Newby, who will play Christopher Buckley.
The play will also feature Tricia Adele-Turner, Lauren Arney, Reya-Nyomi Brown, Patricia Castro, Lydia Fraser, Isaac Gryn, Mark Hammersley, Tom Peters, Kingdom Sibanda, Tiana Simone and Danny Sykes.
In a statement, the Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, said, “The cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow is nothing short of phenomenal. These actors brilliantly explore the early days of many fan favorites – including Hopper, Joyce, Bob, Henry and Dr Brenner – while also bringing new characters to vivid life.”
How old are the characters in Stranger Things: The First Shadow?
Hopper, Joyce, and Bob are seniors in the play, while Henry Creel is a freshman.
Who are the new characters in Stranger Things: The First Shadow?
There are a number of fresh new characters in Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Patty Newby appears as Bob’s sister, along with a series of other familiar characters connected to our heroes, including Chief Hopper (Hopper’s father), Principal Newby (Bob’s father), Alan Munson (Eddie’s father), and Walter Henderson (Dustin’s father).
What’s the first act called in Stranger Things: The First Shadow?
The first act title is ‘Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere’.
Where are tickets being sold for Stranger Things: The First Shadow?
Tickets are on sale now at strangerthingsonstage.com.