Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a play written by Kate Trefry from an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Trefry. The story serves as a prequel to the events of the television series Stranger Things, exploring the backstory of Henry Creel before he became the antagonist Vecna. The production, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, previewed on November 17, 2023, and officially opened on December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End. The play began a run on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre, New York City, on April 22, 2025. In an interview with Variety, the Duffer Brothers confirmed the play is canon to the original series, with the series finale referencing events of the play.
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (March 2026) |
| Stranger Things: The First Shadow | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Written by | Kate Trefry |
| Story by |
|
| Based on | Stranger Things by The Duffer Brothers |
| Directed by | |
| Date premiered | December 14, 2023 |
| Place premiered | Phoenix Theatre, West End, London |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | |
| Setting | Hawkins, Indiana |
| Official site | |
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a play written by Kate Trefry from an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Trefry. The story serves as a prequel to the events of the television series Stranger Things, exploring the backstory of Henry Creel before he became the antagonist Vecna. The production, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, previewed on November 17, 2023, and officially opened on December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End. The play began a run on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre, New York City, on April 22, 2025. In an interview with Variety, the Duffer Brothers confirmed the play is canon to the original series, with the series finale referencing events of the play.[1]
Plot
[edit]Prologue
[edit]In 1943, the United States holds secret experiments involving the USS Eldridge, hoping to use a force field to turn the ship invisible and undetectable to the Germans. However, the ship is instead transported to the Abyss, where most of the crew are killed by strange humanoid creatures.
Chapter One: The Girl from Nowhere
[edit]In 1959, the Creel family — consisting of Victor, his wife Virginia, and their children: older son, Henry, and younger daughter, Alice — move to a new home in Hawkins, Indiana. Henry is tormented, mentally disturbed and in possession of remarkable psychokinetic abilities. Henry struggles to make friends upon joining Hawkins High School; despite that, he quickly forms a connection with Patty Newby, daughter of the school principal. Patty convinces Henry that his powers are not evil, and that he should be able to control them and use them for good. Henry creates a "vision" for Patty, where she can express herself through song while being supported by everyone around her. They form a romantic bond, meeting each other every day after school, and eventually kiss. Meanwhile, Joyce Maldonado attempts to put on a school production of Dark of the Moon.
While in the attic alone, Henry is overcome by the influence of a shadowy presence — his mind enters what he calls "the battlefield", from where he proceeds to kill several animals, including Claudia Yount's cat Prancer.[a] Henry becomes haunted by visions of a humanoid monster; he is terrified that he will be made to kill Patty. Following this, Patty's adoptive brother Bob teams up with Joyce and her friend James Hopper Jr. to investigate the animal killings.
Patty convinces Henry to use his powers to track down her biological mother. As he does this, and while inside the void, he loses control and is once again visited by the monster. This frightens Patty, and when her father walks in and witnesses the scene, he is attacked and almost killed (by Henry controlled by the presence). Patty is able to encourage Henry to fight back by telling him that she believes he is good and that she loves him. Henry responds that he loves her too and is able to end the situation, but not before Patty's father is blinded and seriously injured. Mr. Newby is sent to the hospital, and Henry's mother Virginia sends Henry to Dr. Martin Brenner. It is revealed that she was supplied with drugs by Brenner; under the influence of these drugs, Virginia told Brenner everything about her son. When Mr. Newby wakes up, he tells Patty that Henry saved him from the monster. Mr. Newby draws a picture of the shadowy entity on a piece of paper and gives it to his daughter: it's the Mind Flayer.
Chapter Two: Captain Midnight
[edit]Brenner takes Henry to Hawkins National Laboratory, where the two discuss the past: It is explained that Brenner's father was the captain and sole survivor of the USS Eldridge experiment, who returned to the normal world with significant injuries and a unique blood type; the elder Brenner later revealed the truth about these events on his deathbed. Dr. Brenner later established the Nevada Experiment, an attempt to reproduce what had happened to the Eldridge.
One of Brenner's fellow scientists defected and became a spy for the Soviet Union and stole key technology and transported it to a Nevada cave. At this time, a very young Henry and the Creels lived nearby, in Rachel, Nevada. While exploring the Nevadan caves and playing with a spyglass, Henry stumbled across the stolen technology when it unexpectedly activated, transporting him and the defecting scientist to Abyss.
In Abyss, Henry was exposed to the influence of the shadowy entity. Though Henry returned home after 12 hours, he now possessed a unique blood type and had a changed personality. Brenner was later able to track Henry down thanks to Henry dropping his spyglass in the caves.
Henry, using a sensory deprivation chamber, shows Brenner a humanoid creature through the Void. Brenner sees this creature displayed on a screen, and Henry convulses. Brenner then tries to force Henry to kill a prisoner, but Henry breaks down and ends up stabbing two guards. After this, Henry tells Brenner that he can let him go. Brenner understands that the boy is devoted to someone and therefore cannot kill; later Brenner realizes that this person is Patty and vows to find and kill her.
Henry returns home, but senses that his family is not happy about his return. Using his powers, he reads his mother's thoughts and understands that she wants to send him back to Brenner. Henry gives in to the shadowy entity's influence; while possessed, he kills Virginia and Alice before falling unconscious, with Victor also falling unconscious.
Awakening in dazed confusion some hours later, Henry walks to Hawkins High School to save Patty from Brenner, where the performance of Dark of the Moon is about to begin. Atop the stage rafters, Henry reunites with Patty only to be interrupted by Brenner, who appears on the other side of the stage. Brenner says that Patty is his weakness, and Patty tells Henry not to listen to him. As Henry struggles for control, he informs Patty that he managed to find her birth mother, a singer at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. Feeling overwhelmed, the shadowy entity once again takes control of Henry, and Henry throws Patty off the rafters, seemingly killing her. Brenner takes Henry back to Hawkins Lab, Patty is taken to the hospital, and Victor Creel is accused of the murder of Virginia and Alice based on Joyce, Bob, and Jim's assumptions about the animal killings.
In 1963, Joyce and Jim bid farewell to each other as the latter is shipped off to fight in Vietnam.
Epilogue
[edit]Some years later, an older Henry is back at Hawkins Lab and is restrained. Using the Void, Henry discovers that Patty survived her fall and was discharged from the hospital, though now needing to walk with a cane. Henry observes her in Las Vegas, where she meets her mother backstage after a performance at the Stardust; Patty and her mother recognize each other and embrace.
Brenner informs Henry that the blood transfusions administered to the test subjects have been successful; as a reward, Brenner frees Henry from his restraints. In the Rainbow Room, Henry is introduced to one of the children; Henry remarks: "Hello Eleven, I have something new for us." Lightning flashes and the silhouette of Vecna appears on the back wall.
Background
[edit]In July 2022, it was revealed that a spin-off stage play and spin-off series to Stranger Things were in the works.[2] The stage play was produced by Sonia Friedman, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin,[3] and written by Kate Trefry,[4] based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Trefry.[5] As they worked on the play and the show's fourth season, the Duffers came up with the idea that Dr. Brenner had used Henry Creel's blood to create more psychic children (of which Eleven was the most successful manifestation), to serve as living weapons during the Cold War era. The Duffers started to explore the concept, tying it into the show's main antagonist, because they found it interesting to explore where Eleven's powers came from.[6]
Production history
[edit]West End (2023-present)
[edit]On March 1, 2023, the show's title was announced as Stranger Things: The First Shadow.[7] The show began previews on November 17, 2023, and officially opened on December 14, 2023, at the Phoenix Theatre.[8][9][10]
The production is co-directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin. Set design is by Miriam Buether; costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel; lighting design by Jon Clark; sound design by Paul Arditti; illusion design and visual effects by Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher; video design and visual effects by 59 Productions; movement direction by Coral Messam; wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates; casting by Jessica Ronane Casting CDG; and international casting consultancy by Jim Carnahan. Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates is technical director.[11]
On September 20, 2023, the full cast was announced. The company features Oscar Lloyd as James Hopper Jr., Isabella Pappas as Joyce Maldonado, Chris Buckley as Bob Newby, Louis McCartney as Henry Creel, Patrick Vaill as Dr. Brenner, Ella Karuna Williams as Patty Newby, Michael Jibson as Victor Creel, and Lauren Ward as Virginia Creel.[12][9]
On April 15, 2025, a documentary called Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow, about the making of the play and its debut in the West End, was released on Netflix.[13]
In June 2025, director Justin Martin said that the audiences were very noisy compared to traditional theatre audiences. Surveys revealed that around 60 per cent of them had never been to the theatre, so they "eat popcorn throughout and just respond in a really natural way".[14]
Broadway (2025-present)
[edit]On August 6, 2024, it was announced that the show would transfer to Broadway in early 2025. Previews began at the Marquis Theatre on March 28, 2025, while the play's official opening date was on April 22, 2025.[15][16] Louis McCartney was announced to be reprising the role of Henry Creel for the Broadway transfer in 2025.[17] Nicholas Eldridge was initially cast as Bob Newby but was replaced by Juan Carlos prior to debut.[18]
Principal cast and characters
[edit]| Character | West End[19] | Broadway[20] |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2025 | |
| Henry Creel | Louis McCartney | |
| James Hopper Jr. | Oscar Lloyd | Burke Swanson |
| Joyce Maldonado | Isabella Pappas | Alison Jaye |
| Bob Newby | Chris Buckley | Juan Carlos |
| Dr. Brenner | Patrick Vaill | Alex Breaux |
| Alan Munson | Max Harwood | Eric Weigand |
| Patty Newby | Ella Karuna Williams | Gabrielle Nevaeh |
| Victor Creel | Michael Jibson | T.R. Knight |
| Virginia Creel | Lauren Ward | Rosie Benton |
| Alice Creel | Imogen Turner Faith Delaney Anika Boyle Lily Crawford |
Poppy Lovell Azalea Wolfe |
| Chief Hopper | Shane Attwooll | Ted Koch |
| Lonnie Byers | Chase Brown | Logan Gould |
| Charles Sinclair | Ammar Duffus | Robert T. Cunningham |
| Ted Wheeler | Gilles Geary | Jamie Martin Mann |
| Karen Childress | Florence Guy | Dora Dolphin |
| Principal Newby | Matthew Pidgeon | Andrew Hovelson |
| Walter Henderson | Calum Ross | Ian Dolley |
| Claudia Yount | Maisie Norma Seaton | Shea Grant |
| Sue Anderson | Kemi Awoderu | Ayana Cymone |
Notable replacements
[edit]West End (2023–present)
[edit]- Victor Creel: Andrew Langtree
- Virginia Creel: Lauren O'Neil[21]
- Chief Hopper: Andrew Whipp
- Principal Newby: Rufus Wright
Broadway (2025–present)
[edit]- Henry Creel: Jamie Campbell Bower (epilogue; one night only)[22][23]
Awards and nominations
[edit]2024 West End production
[edit]| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Laurence Olivier Awards[24] | Best Entertainment or Comedy Play | Won | |
| Best Director | Stephen Daldry (Director), Justin Martin (co-director) | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Jon Clark | Nominated | ||
| Best Set Design | Miriam Buether (Set Design), 59 Productions (Video Design) | Won | ||
| Best Sound Design | Paul Arditti | Nominated | ||
| WhatsOnStage Awards[25] | Best New Play | Won | ||
| Best Professional Debut Performance | Louis McCartney | Nominated | ||
| Best Casting Direction | Jessica Ronane | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Jon Clark | Nominated | ||
| Best Set Design | Miriam Buether | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design | Paul Arditti | Nominated | ||
| Best Video Design | 59 Productions | Nominated | ||
| Best Graphic Design | The Creative Partnership | Nominated | ||
2025 Broadway production
[edit]| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play | Louis McCartney | Nominated |
| Best Scenic Design of a Play | Miriam Buether and 59 Productions | Won | ||
| Best Costume Design of a Play | Brigitte Reiffenstuel | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design of a Play | Jon Clark | Won | ||
| Best Sound Design of a Play | Paul Arditti | Won | ||
| Special Tony Award | Jamie Harrison, Chris Fisher, Gary Beestone, and Edward Pierce (for illusions and technical effects) | Won | ||
| Drama League Awards[26] | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated | ||
| Distinguished Performance | Louis McCartney | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award[27] | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Louis McCartney | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play | Miriam Buether, and Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher (illusions and visual effects) | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play | Jon Clark | Won | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design of a Play | Paul Arditti | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards[28] | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Louis McCartney | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Miriam Buether, Jamie Harrison, and Chris Fisher | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Jon Clark | Won | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Paul Arditti | Won | ||
| Outstanding Video/Projections | 59 Productions | Nominated | ||
Netflix release
[edit]In February 2026, Variety reported that Netflix is set to film The First Shadow for release on the platform.[29]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Claudia later becomes Claudia Henderson, and is the mother of Dustin Henderson.
References
[edit]- ^ "'Stranger Things' Live-Action Spinoff to Address the Final Lingering Plot Threads". Hypebeast. January 4, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "Netflix announces 'Stranger Things' spin-off as creators form new production company". CNBC. BBC News. July 7, 2022. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Stranger Things spin-offs to include play made by British theatre duo". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. July 7, 2022. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Stranger Things prequel play combines darkness and fun, creators say". BBC News. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ "Sonia Friedman Productions". soniafriedman.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ Aurthur, Kate (December 25, 2025). "'Stranger Things 5' Volume 2 Spoiler Interview: Duffer Brothers Explain the Upside Down's Origins, Will's [SPOILER], That Breakup and Why Eleven Might Not Get a Happy Ending". Variety. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Huff, Lauren (March 1, 2023). "Stranger Things to get stage play about 1959 Hawkins featuring young Hopper, Joyce, and Vecna". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ "Ambassador Theatre Group announces 'Stranger Things' performance dates". ATG Tickets. ATG. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (September 20, 2023). "'Stranger Things' Stage Play Sets Cast, Opening Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' Cast Tease West End Play: 'It's Like Being in a F—ing Action Film'". Variety. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ "Stranger Things: The First Shadow | Official Box Office". Phoenix Theatre, London. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (September 20, 2023). "'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' Reveals Full Cast For World Premiere In London's West End". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things The First Shadow". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Martin, Justin (June 17, 2025). "Theatrical hitmaker Justin Martin on Prima Facie's follow-up: 'It wrestles with how to bring up boys'". The Guardian (Interview). Interviewed by Lawson, Mark. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ Huston, Caitlin (August 6, 2024). "Netflix's 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' to Open on Broadway in Spring 2025". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ "Stranger Things: The First Shadow – Broadway", Playbill. Retrieved April 1, 2025
- ^ Bitran, Tara (December 4, 2024). "Meet the Broadway Cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow Play". Netflix.
- ^ Stranger Things’ Broadway Play Adds 24 to Cast and Releases First Rehearsal Photos
- ^ "Cast & Creative - Stranger Things: The First Shadow | Official Site". uk.strangerthingsonstage.com/. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ "Cast & Creative – Stranger Things: The First Shadow US | March 2025". broadway.strangerthingsonstage.com/. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ "Full casting announced for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the West End's Phoenix Theatre | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. September 25, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ Harrison, Olivia (December 22, 2025). "Jamie Campbell Bower Makes Surprise Cameo in 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow'". Tudum. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ Masseron, Meg; Hall, Margaret (December 22, 2025). "Jamie Campbell Bower Gives a Surprise Performance in 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ "Olivier awards 2024: complete list of nominations". The Guardian. March 12, 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Nominations in full: 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 16, 2025). "Nicole Scherzinger Wins Distinguished Performance at 2025 Drama League Awards; Read the Full Winners List". Playbill. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 30, 2025). "Boop! Leads 2025 Drama Desk Award Nominations With 11 Nods Including Outstanding Musical; Read the Full List Here". Playbill. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 12, 2025). "Maybe Happy Ending Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ French, Kennedy (February 10, 2026). "'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' Broadway Play to Be Filmed for Netflix Release". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
External links
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