Stranger Things: The First Shadow brings the hit Netflix TV series to the stage in the form of a West End show. It’s an almost three-hour-long spectacle that grabs its audience from the first moments and drags theatregoers into the world of the Upside Down.
This is an effects-heavy show; there are some utterly stunning set pieces from the very start as the production does everything it can to remind you that this is Stranger Things and you should expect the unexpected. Directors Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin are skilled at spectacle and suspense, and the result is a thrilling, immersive experience that uses every trick unique to the stage to keep its audience gripped.
First Shadow is a prequel; we see the teenagers of Hawkin’s Indiana back in the 1950s, and the story leans into that familiar Grease-like high school vibe to draw us in. Being a Stranger Things story, the self-awareness runs deep. One of the main protagonists is a comic-book fan, so we get references to decoder rings, Wonder Woman, and Captain Midnight, which could go over the heads of most modern geeks, but it sets the mood of isolation, strangeness, and teenage angst early.
It’s also an origin story of sorts. Relative newcomer Louis McCartney takes on the role of Henry Creel, who will become a major villain in the TV series. We meet him as a haunted, timid boy trying to hold back a genuine darkness. The performance is pretty much perfect, with Louis nailing the difficult balance between sympathetic and monstrous. The rest of the Creel family is brilliantly yet subtly presented. Michael Jibson is iconic as the misunderstood and damaged Victor Creel, and Lauren Ward is powerful as the well-intentioned mother who does everything wrong.
Ella Williams is mesmerising as Patty Newby, someone also regarded as a bit of an outsider by her classmates and who’s drawn to the shy but powerful Creel. Williams has the most demanding role, as they take on various challenges throughout the story. They are superb throughout.
As you may have gathered, our main protagonists are high school kids. Though this is the ’50s, those kids will grow up to be recognisable adults from the main show. We meet the teenage Joyce early on, and Isabella Pappas does brilliantly to channel the spirit of an optimistic and fiery Winona Ryder throughout. Oscar Lloyd embodies a young Jim Hopper, emulating David Harbour’s famous swagger whilst making the role his own. Rounding out our curious heroes is Christopher Buckley as the poor, ill-fated Bob Newby. Buckley is great as a magnetic but shy nerd who is both the comic foil and vital to moving the plot forward.
There are some clever and interesting reflections. Obviously, there’s no game of Dungeons & Dragons to present a mirror to the plot (it won’t be invented till 1974), but a terrible stage play being planned by the kids (yes, there’s a play within the play), fills that role quite nicely.
The supporting cast is also littered with nods to the future. Max Harwood is particularly fun as the over-dramatic Alan Munson, the father of Dungeon Master Eddie Munson. You can easily point at the cast and figure out who’s going to be to who’s parent, and though this does make the world of Stranger Things a little bit smaller than expected, it fits the claustrophobic and tight vibe of First Shadow perfectly.
The other star of the show is, of course, the special effects. One of Stranger Things’ notable tricks is to bring terror to the every day, and there are some extremely well-done effects. The stage is used to full effect; rooms zoom in and out, things lurk in the wings, and the stage itself crackles thanks to the magic of back projection. Things levitate, crawl, bleed, or explode.
As a prequel, we’d say this is not essential viewing if your goal is to understand the world of Stranger Things thoroughly. If, however, you’re a fan of the show, we strongly recommend that you see the show.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a mesmerising, essential West End experience. Simply brilliant.
Issue 484 of STARBURST Magazine features cast interviews with the Creel Family and is out now.
