- In |
- On December 1, 2025
Stranger Things season 5 vol 1 is finally here after a very lengthy 3 year wait. Now that there’s almost another month before vol 2 and the finale the question on everyone’s minds is. Should you see Stranger Things The First Shadow, the stage show before the finale? Well, as a big fan of the series and someone who wrongfully assumed the play was just season 1 in theatre form. For longer than I’ll like to admit. I’m here to tell you, if you can, to absolutely work in a trip to see this show before Christmas! I got to see it during their gala night and everything from the special effects to the acting was incredible. And although it stood on it’s own it also added so much backstory and lore to the TV characters we already know and love.
Before we get into the play the theatre itself deserves a mention. The Phoenix theatre has been beautifully transformed with an eye catching marquee and grand merchandise displays. This helps it set the scene perfectly and transport you to Hawkins. The bar is suitably named the chips ahoy and we even have demogorgon plushies on the merchandise stand. The stage looks simple but striking and doesn’t give anything away which (small spoilers ahead) will leave you questioning frequently during the show, how did they pull this off??
The Show
The story is set in Hawkins and follows Henry Creel (Jack Christou) who has just moved there with his family. He then starts attending high school. He inadvertently joins Joyce’s (Edie Wright) production of ‘Oklahoma’ and meets Hopper (Adam Wadsworth), Joyce, Ben (Max Potter) and Patty (Avril Maponga) the principal’s adopted daughter. A series of animal murders then plagues Hawkins and we follow Hopper, Joyce and Ben as they try to find the culprit while Patty and Henry try to use his powers to locate Patty’s birth mother. The story quickly shifts from casual high school drama to gruesome horror. Tinged with the mystery that we’ve come to expect from Stranger Things.
Not to give too much away but the stage play will definitely add to your enjoyment of season 5 as the lore and backstory it give Henry Creel adds so much to the villains arc and his personality. Many references will make more sense and the prequel only grew my love for these characters. Beyond that Stranger Things is a great night out at the theatre with a perfect mix of horror, humor and nostalgia. The Olivier and Tony-winning special effects doesn’t hurt it either. I will be thinking about that opening scene for forever.
Book tickets to see Stranger Things the First Shadow now! And visit us in person at Leicester Square Box Office or call 020 7087 2999 to book our exclusively discounted stranger things specials.
