Theatre REVIEW: Stranger Things: The First Shadow - ★★★★★

Mix Up Theatre (Stewart)
1 hour ago
2 min read

Stranger Things: The First Shadow opens to rave five star reviews! Theatre and storytelling has never been seen like this before and has been described as ‘The West End theatre event of the year’ (The Daily Telegraph).

Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set within the mythology and world of Netflix's hugely popular series.

Experience Hawkins in a whole new way at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End with Stranger Things, live on stage.

Witness the story of young Jim Hopper, Bob Newby and Joyce Maldonado, as they navigate the regular worries of a small town in 1959. But when newcomer Henry Creel and his family try to start anew, they find that the shadows of the past are not so easily left behind.

This gripping new adventure takes theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension. It will transport you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story, and may even hold the key to its end. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this thrilling production at the Phoenix Theatre in the heart of London’s theatre district, the West End.

Stranger Things features an original story by Kate Trefy, The Duffer Brothers and Jack Thorne, with direction from Stephen Daldry produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions. Don't miss out on the world premiere of what is sure to be the theatrical event of the year!

Where?

Phoenix Theatre, London until 27th December

WEBSITE

Sandy (Age 13) - ★★★★★

"Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a wonderful show based on the world created by the Duffer Brothers. The story follows Henry Creel after he and his family move to Hawkins in search of a fresh start. At first, Henry struggles to fit in at school and make friends, but it quickly becomes clear that something isn’t right. Strange visions, terrifying supernatural events, and mysterious happenings begin to spread across the town. As the mystery grows, Henry, alongside young versions of characters such as Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado (Byers) , Bob Newby, and Dr. Brenner, become caught up in a series of disturbing events that slowly reveal the darkness hiding beneath Hawkins. The show also helps build the dynamics that are used in the actual show.

What truly sets the production apart is its technical achievement. The lighting, sound design, stage effects, and illusions are breathtaking. There are several moments where it’s genuinely difficult to understand how the effects are being created, making the supernatural elements feel astonishingly real. The pacing is excellent throughout, balancing suspense, humour, and heartfelt emotion. The wonderful staging combined with powerful acting makes for a wonderful experience for newcomers of the world of Stranger Things and people who have been following the show since the start.

This was one of the best stage shows I’ve ever seen, I give it five stars."