This is a spoiler-free article.
Less than 18 months after it premiered on the West End, Stranger Things: The First Shadow made its anticipated Broadway debut this April. The play is Netflix’s first production on the stage, and understandably, the production was initially met with skepticism. Could the loved IP translate into a production truly worthy of appearing amongst the world’s most coveted stages?
The challenge for any show that has an existing audience outside the theatre is always the same. How do you please both the fans who are already committed to the universe, and the theatre fans who aren’t familiar? It’s a fine line to say the least, that historically has lent itself to failure, rather than success.
What makes this notably different, however, is that The First Shadow is not trying to create a stage version of the story we’ve already seen. Rather, like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child before it, it’s an entirely new story that sits within the show’s universe. A prequel set primarily 24 years before the first season of the show, with characters we know – but at very different stages of their lives.
So – how was it received?
The fact that producers have gone ahead with their Broadway run, concurrent to its final months on the West End should be fairly telling. It’s a show that could have closed after its first month. It could have absolutely drowned under the weight of expectation and a lengthy mythology. But it worked.
Critics raved. Fans were satiated. And the show went on to win two Olivier Awards in London, and three Tony Awards in New York, amongst many other accolades.
I was lucky enough to see it earlier this month on Broadway, with tickets through The Broadway Collection, and I can attest to the same experience. It was jaw-dropping from a technical perspective. The performances were fantastic, and the immersiveness and breakneck speed of the production and its story make for something that sucks you in from the minute it starts, through to its thrilling conclusion.
How did they achieve it?
In April of this year, just as the Broadway show premiered, Netflix debuted a documentary about the making of the stage show. Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow goes on to show just how seriously they took this challenge, and how it took its makers to breaking point.
Ultimately, playwright Kate Trefry did an incredible job weaving all the elements of the story together. Add in the vision of director Stephen Daldry, and a highly experienced creative team who have worked on some of theatre’s most technically impressive productions, helped set them up for success.
In watching the documentary, you’ll see just what a miracle the show is – how the pieces that make the show work in its current form were still being finessed right up until opening night. How unique its creation was. And how easily it could have all gone wrong. They were even having to make last minute changes to the script so as not to give too much away for Season Five.
Welcome back to Hawkins, Indiana
It’s hard to believe that the first episodes of the fourth season of Stranger Things dropped on Netflix over three years ago.
The show in many ways sits as season four and a half, giving fans some content to sink their teeth into in the long wait between the penultimate and final seasons.
But it did more than that, for me. I didn’t just leave the theatre having enjoyed the play. I left finding a renewed love of the universe of the TV show on which it’s based. Which was a good thing, too – I still hadn’t watched the fourth season of the show. And so I went home and immediately watched the documentary and the entirety of season four! Talk about a synergy between stage and screen…
What can you expect from the story?
The show’s director Stephen Daldry brought us Billy Elliot: The Musical, so he knows how to translate film and TV IP onto the stage.
To achieve it, they have two stories going on here. One unique to the stage (at least for now), which we’ll call the Patty Newby storyline, and the Creel storyline, which is directly linked to the fourth season of the show. And we would presume the fifth and final, too. This is a big part of how they made the show work for all audiences.
Like any episode of the series – and particularly season four when so many of the characters were split amongst different locations – they fit a lot of story into this 2 hour 45 minute show. The pacing at which the cast have to move through it is truly remarkable. And whatever issues the Behind the Curtain documentary points to early issues about the show’s length and pacing were well and truly ironed out by opening night.
This is show that barely gives its audience – let alone its cast – a moment to breathe, but for the intermission.
How does it fit into the Stranger Things Universe?
As a prequel, it would make sense that the play would sit outside the confines of the TV series. And while that would be the case for much of the play, with a cast of 34 people playing a number of characters that aren’t connected to the screen story, the story of the Creel’s is very much a companion piece to the fourth season.
As mentioned, I hadn’t seen the fourth season before watching the play – which to some degrees was a mistake, as seeing the play spoilt some of the plot points of the fourth season. But on the flipside, it meant moments in the story on the stage were a surprise for me, that gained further clarity once I watched the entirety of the fourth season soon after leaving the theatre.
And while The First Shadow‘s playwright (who is also a writer on the show) Kate Trefry has been quoted to SFX Magazine as saying that you won’t need to see the play to understand the final season, she does say it will help provide a “deeper understanding”.
Yes, the effects are really that good…
When you hear that the Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher, the illusionists behind all the impressive effects in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, are involved in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the expectations of the on stage production are going to sit pretty high. But I’m happy to say that it surpassed even the wildest of these expectations. This is the most technically impressive production I have ever seen on the stage.
I made an effort to avoid too many effect heavy production photos in this article. I think it’s best to experience it without seeing what’s in store for you. There are so many great surprises to enjoy, try not to spoil them. And that means you probably should do as I did and wait until after you see the show to watch the making of.
Is it Canon?
While The First Shadow is officially canon, keen eyed viewers will note some disparity between the way the Creels are portrayed on screen, and on stage. Ultimately, these differences were necessary for conveying the story on the stage (the use of the radio in particular), and it will be interesting to see how any of these points are elaborated upon in the show’s final season.
Is it Scary?
As fantastical as the TV show is, its subject matter is dark. And there are some truly frightening scenes. The show captures that spirit well, giving audiences several jump scares along the way. But that is balanced by the overall wow-factor of the whole production. Every set is constructed beautifully, and the transitions are seamless. Like “how on earth did they just do that!?” seamless.
Who is in the play?
Unlike many shows both on Broadway on the West End, this isn’t a production chock-filled with names of note. They are very much relying on the IP itself to sell tickets. However, on Broadway, there are a few people to note.
Firstly, we have Louis McCartney in the show’s lead role as Henry Creel.
Anyone who’s watched Behind the Curtain will note that he has been involved since the early workshops in London, and is one of the only cast members to (so far) perform in both productions. Bringing him into the Broadway production no doubt helped move things along, as this is an incredibly demanding role. He’s brilliant, and received a Tony nomination for his performance.
The most recognisable face in the cast is T.R. Knight, who plays Victor Creel. You’ll recognise him as George from Grey’s Anatomy. Nickelodeon fans will love to see Gabrielle Nevaeh, playing Patty Newby, a new character for the play. She was the star of That Girl Lay Lay, and this is her Broadway debut.
As for who the cast are playing, it’s a mix of younger versions of characters we’ve come to know and love, alongside some new names that are likely going to be exclusively found in the story of this prequel. You’ll see Hopper, still in high school, alongside Joyce and Bob – who has quite an integral role this time around. Justice for Bob!
Will I enjoy it if I haven’t seen Stranger Things?
This is the hardest question to answer. If you enjoy Stranger Things, there’s no question that you’ll enjoy it. But I don’t think you need to have seen the show to connect with it.
There are aspects to the story – particularly with the character of Patty Newby, the adopted sister of Bob Newby, played compassionately and masterfully by Gabrielle Nevaeh – that are perfectly self-contained within the constraints of this universe and its stage.
I would definitely read up on the basic lore of the show though before you come and see it.
Why you need to see it…
If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, there’s no question that you should see this show.
It expands upon the universe established on the streaming platform, while providing an immersive, thrilling experience in the live arena. It’s hard not to leave this show feeling like you’ve witnessed something truly special.
And that’s where the broad appeal comes in – from a technical perspective, there has never been a show more impressive. The mix of projection and practical effects, as well as its unique staging, makes transitions as seamless as they come, and keeps your jaw consistently on the floor. Every time I looked around the theatre it was a room full of people who had been sucked into that world. You could have heard a pin drop.
And as an added bonus, there’s some indication that it will help prepare you for Season Five, giving you a head start on everyone else! And isn’t that special?
Where can you see The First Shadow?
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is performed eight times a week at the Marquis Theatre (210 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036) in New York City. For tickets, visit The Broadway Collection.
You can also see the show at London’s Phoenix Theatre until 7th September 2025.
For more details about the show, and its concurrent productions, visit the official Stranger Things website.
The final season of Stranger Things commences on Netflix on 26th November 2025. Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow is streaming now.
The author attended the Broadway performance of Stranger Things: The First Shadow on 12th June 2025, as a guest of The Broadway Collection. Photos of the Broadway production and curtain call of opening night provided by Netflix.
