Review: Stranger Things: The First Shadow at Phoenix Theatre

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Five Stars)

You don’t need to be a fan (or even to have watched) the Netflix series to be completely swept away by this gripping, visually jaw-dropping prequel. With an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Kate Trefry (who also penned the script), Stranger Things: The First Shadow transports its audience to 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, in a production that fuses nostalgic Americana with spine-tingling horror.

At three hours long (including an interval), the runtime might sound daunting, but under Stephen Daldry’s masterful direction (with Justin Martin as co-director), the pace never falters. Instead, it builds with a thrilling intensity, ensuring you’re hooked from the very beginning to the final, breathless moment of the show.

The cast are fantastic across the board. Louis Healy is captivating as Henry Creel, bringing complexity to a character who is both unsettling and fear-inducing but also endearing in his scenes with Patty Newby (Miranda Mufema). Younger versions of familiar characters from the Netflix series including Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado, and Bob Newby are portrayed with fresh interpretations that avoid mimicry. Rather than echoing their TV counterparts, the cast make these characters entirely their own, giving the production an authenticity not always seen in screen-to-stage adaptations.

Visually, this is one of the most ambitious productions currently in the West End. Miriam Buether’s set design is jaw-droppingly inventive and constantly changing as the story progresses. The lighting, sound, and visual effects work in perfect harmony to create a genuinely cinematic experience. Jon Clark’s lighting design conjures mood and mystery, while Paul Arditti’s sound design immerses the audience in the danger of the story.

However, it’s the illusions and visual effects, courtesy of Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher, that truly steal the show. These aren’t just stage tricks: they are full-blown theatrical magic. From chilling transformations to the gasp-inducing moment a ship appears out of nowhere, the production is packed with jaw-dropping moments that have to be seen to be believed. It’s no wonder they were recently honoured with a Special Tony Award for their work on the illusions and technical effects in the Broadway transfer of the production. 

What makes Stranger Things: The First Shadow truly stand out is its ability to deliver horror on stage with sophistication and intelligence, never veering into camp territory. This production isn’t just a prequel: it stands alone as a full-scale theatrical experience that reinvents what horror can be on stage.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is currently booking at the Phoenix Theatre until 9th November 2025.

Tickets are available here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/stranger-things-the-first-shadow/phoenix-theatre/

Photos by Manuel Harlan