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Netflix announces 'Stranger Things' spin-off as creators form new production company

Jul 6 2022

Stranger Things prequel play combines darkness and fun, creators say

bbc.com

Background

In July 2022, it was revealed that a spin-off stage play and a spin-off series were in the works.¹ The stage play was produced by Sonia Friedman, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin,² and written by Kate Trefry,³ based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Trefry.⁴

Production history

West End (2023)

On March 1, 2023, the show's title was announced as Stranger Things: The First Shadow.⁵ The show began previews on November 17, 2023, and officially opened on December 14, 2023, at the Phoenix Theatre.⁶⁷⁸

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.⁹

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.¹⁰¹¹

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.¹²

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".¹³

Broadway (2025)

On August 6, 2024, it was announced that the show would transfer to Broadway in Spring 2025. Previews began at the Marquis Theatre on March 28, 2025, while the play's official opening date was on April 22, 2025.¹⁴¹⁵ Louis McCartney was announced to be reprising the role of Henry Creel for the Broadway transfer in 2025.¹⁶

Principal cast and characters

Notable replacements

West End (2023-)

• Virginia Creel: Lauren O'Neil²¹

Awards and nominations

2024 West End production

2025 Broadway production

External links

• Official website

References

1. "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. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/06/netflix-stranger-things-spinoff-duffer-brothers-upside-down-pictures.html ↩

2. "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. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62076078 ↩

3. "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. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65013620 ↩

4. "Sonia Friedman Productions". soniafriedman.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023. https://www.soniafriedman.com/news-press/world-premiere-of-stranger-things-the-first-shadow ↩

5. 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. https://ew.com/theater/stranger-things-stage-play-1959-hawkins-young-hopper-joyce/ ↩

6. "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. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/stranger-things-the-first-shadow/phoenix-theatre/ ↩

7. 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. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/stranger-things-stage-play-cast-opening-date-london-1235594529/ ↩

8. "'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. https://variety.com/2023/theater/news/stranger-things-play-the-first-shadow-cast-west-end-1235789075/ ↩

9. "Stranger Things: The First Shadow | Official Box Office". Phoenix Theatre, London. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023. https://www.thephoenixtheatre.co.uk/shows/stranger-things-the-first-shadow ↩

10. 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. https://deadline.com/2023/09/stranger-things-the-first-shadow-full-cast-stage-play-london-west-end-1235550993/ ↩

11. 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. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/stranger-things-stage-play-cast-opening-date-london-1235594529/ ↩

12. "Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things The First Shadow". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved May 30, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/81768470 ↩

13. 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. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/jun/17/justin-martin-stephen-daldry-prima-facie-jodie-comer-stranger-things-kyoto-inter-alia ↩

14. 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. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/netflixs-stranger-things-the-first-shadow-broadway-1235967064/ ↩

15. "Stranger Things: The First Shadow – Broadway", Playbill. Retrieved 1 April 2025 https://playbill.com/production/stranger-things-the-first-shadow-broadway-marquis-theatre-2025 ↩

16. Bitran, Tara (December 4, 2024). "Meet the Broadway Cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow Play". Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/stranger-things-broadway-cast ↩

17. "Cast & Creative - Stranger Things: The First Shadow | Official Site". uk.strangerthingsonstage.com/. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023. https://uk.strangerthingsonstage.com/creative-team/ ↩

18. "Cast & Creative - Stranger Things: The First Shadow | Official Site". Stranger Things On Stage. Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250520175220/https://uk.strangerthingsonstage.com/creative-team/ ↩

19. "Cast & Creative - Stranger Things: The First Shadow US | March 2025". broadway.strangerthingsonstage.com/. Retrieved March 28, 2025. https://broadway.strangerthingsonstage.com/creative-team/ ↩

20. WestEndTheatre (November 6, 2024). "Louis Healy in Stranger Things: The First Shadow | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. Retrieved June 17, 2025. https://www.westendtheatre.com/262036/star-watch/louis-healy/ ↩

21. "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. https://www.westendtheatre.com/255414/news/full-casting-announced-for-stranger-things-the-first-shadow-at-the-west-ends-phoenix-theatre/ ↩

22. "Olivier awards 2024: complete list of nominations". The Guardian. March 12, 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 12, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/12/olivier-awards-2024-complete-list-of-nominations ↩

23. "Nominations in full: 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023. https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/nominations-in-full-24th-annual-whatsonstage-awards_1554633/ ↩

24. 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. https://playbill.com/article/nicole-scherzinger-wins-distinguished-performance-at-2025-drama-league-awards-read-the-full-winners-list ↩

25. 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. https://playbill.com/article/boop-leads-2025-drama-desk-award-nominations-with-11-nods-including-outstanding-musical-read-the-full-list-here ↩

26. 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. https://playbill.com/article/maybe-happy-ending-leads-2025-outer-critics-circle-awards-see-the-full-list-of-winners ↩