‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ will pull the curtains with one final run
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the play based on an original story by Netflix’s Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and writer Kate Trefry, has been extended for one final stretch of shows. So, if you’re someone who’s yet to catch up with it, this one’s for you.
After selling over 1.6million tickets across 1,500 performances in London and New York City, the award-winning play is set to complete its run at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on December 27th and at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway in the Big Apple on January 3rd, 2027.
Co-directed by Tony Award-winning Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Stranger Things: The First Shadow debuted in London’s West End in late 2023. In its three-year run, the play has grabbed numerous accolades, including Olivier Awards for ‘Best Entertainment or Comedy Play’ and ‘Best Set Design,’ Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards for ‘Best Set Design’ and ‘Most Promising Newcomer,’ and the WhatsOnStage Award for ‘Best New Play.’
The Broadway production went on to win four Tony Awards, including ‘Best Scenic Design of a Play,’ ‘Best Lighting Design of a Play,’ ‘Best Sound Design of a Play,’ and a Special Tony Award for ‘Illusions and Technical Effects.’
For those unaware, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, set in Hawkins, Indiana, 1959, traces the untold troubled past of the Netflix show’s big bad, Henry Creel, AKA Vecna. While Trefry “always knew there was more to the story of Henry Creel,” she “never imagined we would have the chance to tell it all.”
“It has been a magical, terrifying ride, and to share the communal experience of every laugh, tear, and scare with your audience is every writer’s dream. Thank you to everyone who made this dream come true,” Trefry says (via Tudum).
Meanwhile, the Duffer brothers, who also serve as creative producers for Stranger Things: The First Shadow, say, “Their [Stephen, Trefry, Martin, and everyone involved] incredible work drew audiences from all over – a majority of whom had never even been to a Broadway show before. We’d also like to give a standing ovation to the incredibly gifted actors who stepped into these roles – including the Tony-nominated Louis McCartney – and to the fans, who made each and every performance so memorable.”
Although fans entered 2026 with a curtain call on the beloved sci-fi show on Netflix, 2027 is about to wrap up yet another fan-favourite part of the Stranger Things universe. So, grab the final opportunity and get your tickets for The First Shadow in London and in New York City before it all settles to dust.