Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Theatre Review)

London, 2024, Phoenix Theatre. My friend Dee and I snap quick photos of the stage screen emblazoned with ‘The Philadelphia Experiment’ before the lights go down and the soundtrack turns up. Any minute now, we will be plunged into the topsy turvy world of Hawkins, a small US town where bad things happen. To my left sits a mother and her child, I’m not sure how old the kid is but I hope he’s old enough to cope with what’s coming next. Because it’s bound to be intense. 

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is built on the mythology of Stranger Things, the Netflix TV series that became a global phenomenon. Already a hit from Season 1, Stranger Things really blew up in Season 4. It was crammed with high-octane moments and that scene that pushed Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill to the top of the charts. 

The stage play is based on an original story by Stranger Things creators the Duffer brothers and writers Kate Trefry and Jack Thorne. The curtain lifts on a prologue scene: panic stations on a navy ship where monstrous creatures rise under a cloud of fog. It’s a nod to The Philadelphia Experiment, an infamous WWII military conspiracy that clearly inspired the Stranger Things legend. 

Then the action cuts to Hawkins, 1959, where we meet high school seniors Jim Hopper (Hopper), Joyce Maldonado (Joyce Byers) and Bob Newby. If you’ve watched the series, you’ll recognise Hopper, Joyce and Bob instantly — they are perfectly cast as younger versions of their TV selves. It’s fun to see them here as teenagers, already trying to figure out the town’s riddles.

Bob is an amateur radio DJ whose station is beset by constant electrical interference. Across town, the Creel family have just moved in and it’s obvious there’s something strange about their son Henry. When Henry enrols at Hawkins High, he meets Bob’s sister Patty and they bond as misfits.

Henry and Patty get cast as leads in a school play directed by Joyce who is trying to win a scholarship to drama school. This play could be her one-way ticket out of smallsville but there are several problems casting a shadow over her future plans. For a start, her leading man Henry is secretly wrestling with dark forces beyond his control. Meanwhile there’s a string of grisly animal killings threatening to turn the town upside down…

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a masterful production with a well crafted story and excellent pacing. The atmosphere and suspense keep building and by the interlude my shoulders were stiff with tension.

At times, between the song and dance breaks, teenage banter and budding romances, it feels more like a coming of age drama and you get lulled into a false sense of relaxation. That’s also part of the charm of the Stranger Things universe. It blends youthful 80s mysteries like The Goonies and Stand By Me with the supernatural snark of Buffy the Vampire Slayer before amping things up on the horror stakes. 

The stage cast is fantastic, particularly Patty and Henry who both pull off their characters’ mix of creepy, awkward and empathetic. And the staging, sound and special effects are next level — from eerie lighting to exploding lab animals and levitating humans!

The last time I experienced Stranger Things live was at Secret Cinema’s immersive event. That was a blast and I enjoyed The First Shadow just as much. It adds new layers to the story and keeps you craving more. Despite how jangly my nerves were by the end, I’d happily watch it all over again. It was truly out of this world.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is recommended for ages 12+, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. NB: Show contains gunfire audio, loud noises and explosions, haze and smoke, flashing lights and strobe, and strong language. There are depictions of various mental health conditions and disorders. Playing at Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0JP (Leicester Square/Covent Garden tube). 7pm (Tue-Sat), 2pm (Fri & Sat) & 3pm (Sun); from £20 (Show extended until Feb 16, 2025).