Stranger Things has spawned a stage play. Kate Trefry, a writer and co-executive producer on the critically acclaimed, award-winning Netflix series, wrote Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which will launch in London’s West End’s Phoenix Theatre later this year.
The play’s based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Kate Trefry, and is rooted in the world and mythology of the series. Netflix offered this description of Stranger Things: The First Shadow:
“Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell 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 have a very long reach.
Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end.”
Stephen Daldry is directing the play with co-director Justin Martin. The creative team includes Miriam Buether (set design), Brigitte Reiffenstuel (costume design), Jon Clark (lighting design), Paul Arditti (sound design), and Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher (illusions design).
The Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things, are involved in the play as creative producers. “We are beyond excited about Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Collaborating with the brilliant Stephen Daldry has been nothing short of inspiring, and Kate Trefry has written a play that is at turns surprising, scary, and heartfelt. You will meet endearing new characters, as well as very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that sets the groundwork for the future of Stranger Things. We’re dying to tell you more about the story but won’t – it’s more fun to discover it for yourself. Can’t wait to see you nerds in London!” stated Matt and Ross Duffer.
The play is produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions. Tickets will go on sale this spring. Fans who register today at strangerthingsonstage.com will receive priority access.
“The world and mythology of Stranger Things has enabled a rich and fertile ground for creating an incredible story for the stage. The Duffer Brothers have built a huge global following for good reason, and a world-class creative team has built on their boundless imagination to dream up an unbelievably exciting theatrical event for our audiences,” stated Sonia Friedman. “Set within the canon of Stranger Things, this new play opens in London, with the West End hosting the only place in the world to experience this new story – for now. I’m thrilled to reunite with my visionary long-term collaborator Stephen Daldry. Together, with our brilliant Netflix partners, we can’t wait to welcome Stranger Things fans into theatre, and theatregoers into the realm of Stranger Things.”
“Stranger Things has captured the imagination of fans around the world and we are incredibly thrilled to expand this exciting universe with Netflix’s first live stage production. With the creative talents of Matt and Ross Duffer combined with Sonia Friedman and Stephen Daldry, theatregoers will be swept up in a truly epic event worthy of Stranger Things,” said Greg Lombardo, VP Live Experiences for Netflix.
