Mary Gilmore, Staff Writer
The critically acclaimed Netflix show, “Stranger Things.” hits the stage with a prequel entitled, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” This play first opened in Dec. 2023 at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End. The production made its way to Marquis Theatre, beginning shows in New York late Mar. 2025. Tickets for this play can be purchased by Broadway Direct for $60+.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is a prequel of the original “Stranger Things” series. The play is written by Kate Trefry, produced by Sonia Friedman, and directed by Stephen Daldry. Trefry created her script from a story co-created by Trefry, the Duffer Brothers, and Jack Thorne. The Duffer Brothers are the original show creators and Jack Thorne is the playwright of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Trefry was on the original Netflix shows writing staff and worked closely with the Duffer Brothers when bringing their story to the stage.
The Duffer Brothers stated in an advertisement for this play that the idea to produce this was brought up during the creation of season four. The Duffer Brothers and many of the writing and creating staff had a lot to say about Vecna’s backstory, yet they only had so much time in the TV series. When someone mentioned a possible play, everyone knew it would have to be a prequel to give the viewers a new perspective on ‘Stranger Things’.
The play is about the town of Hawkins, Indiana in 1959, which is 24 years before the first season of the Netflix show. This production centers around many of the adult characters from the show, like Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers. However, the play specifically centers around teenager Henry Creel, who’s known in the TV series as Vecna.
The story of the play is relatively normal, bringing in a new look into the lives of beloved characters. Hopper is a rebellious teen boy who’s also the son of the police chief, while Joyce is simply a quirky theatre lover. Creel is the new kid in town looking for a fresh start, but of course this wouldn’t be “Stranger Things” without some strange things occurring. Dark twists, powers, and the world of the Upside Down bring drama to the stage.
While the play hasn’t been out for long in New York, it has won a few awards in London. At the 2024 Olivier Awards, an event celebrating the finest in London Theatre, ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ received the awards for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Set Design. At the WhatsOnStage awards, the production received the award for Best New Play.
The reviews for the play have been overwhelmingly positive. The BBC reported, “A show like this is artistically successful if it’s enjoyable in its own right but also provides an authentic-feeling addition to the Stranger Things universe. It ticks both those boxes.” Additionally, The Standard also reviewed the play, stating, “This astonishing show turns normal expectations of theatre upside down.”
‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes long, including one intermission. At the Marquis Theatre, there are eight performances a week, one on each weekday except Monday, and two on the weekends.
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