Starnger Things: The First Shadow is coming to London’s West End later this year.
Stranger things is getting a prequel, but it’s not coming to Netflix – it’s going to the stage. Netflix has announced Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a new play set to premiere at the Phoenix Theater in London’s West End in late 2023. The prequel is based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, and Trefry is writing the new play. Stephen Daldry directs with Justin Martin co-directing. The Duffer Brothers will serve as creative producers, while Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions produce.
Netflix praises the series “brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, taking theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension.” It’s also been teased that the prequel may “hold the key to the end,” suggesting it will also link to how the show ultimately ends on Netflix. Some details have also been revealed about the show and the official synopsis is below.
Hawkins, 1959: An Ordinary Town with Regular Concerns. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister doesn’t take his radio show seriously, and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past are very far reaching.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow expands the lore of the franchise
“We are more than excited about it Stranger Things: The First Shadowthe Duffer brothers said in a statement. ‘Working with the brilliant Stephen Daldry has been nothing short of inspiring, and Kate Trefry has written a play that is by turns surprising, scary and heartfelt. You will meet endearing new characters, as well as some very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that lays the foundation for the future of Stranger things. We’d love to tell you more about the story, but won’t – it’s more fun to find out for yourself. Can’t wait to see you nerds in London!”
Even with the change in format, the prequel is seen as completely canon with the TV show, so any new revelations being revealed in The first shadow will correlate with the main story.
“The world and the mythology of Stranger things has provided rich and fertile ground for creating an incredible story for the stage,” added Sonia Friedman. an incredibly exciting theatrical event for our audience. Set within the canon of Stranger things, this new play will open in London, with the West End the only place in the world to experience this new story – for now. I am excited to reunite with my visionary, longtime collaborator Stephen Daldry. Together with our brilliant Netflix partners, we can’t wait to welcome you Stranger things fans to theater, and theatergoers to the realm of Stranger things.”
Details on ticket information, performance schedule, full creative team and casting information will be announced at a future date. You can sign up for priority access to tickets at StrangerThings at Stage.com. For now, you can stream the first four seasons of Stranger things on Netflix. Season 5 does not have a premiere date yet.