'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' to close in the West End in December

The award-winning stage prequel to Netflix's Stranger Things TV series will also end its run on Broadway a week after the London production concludes.

Summary

• Stranger Things: The First Shadow will close in the West End on 27 December
• The show tells the villain origin story of Henry Creel 30 years before the Stranger Things TV series
• The play won Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards and earned widespread critical acclaim
• The show has played at the Phoenix Theatre since 2023

It's your last chance to visit Hawkins: Stranger Things: The First Shadow has extended in the West End for a final time, and it will play its last performance at the Phoenix Theatre on 27 December 2026.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow takes place 30 years before the events of the award-winning Netflix series, depicting the villain origin story of Henry Creel and expanding on events referenced in season 5 of the TV show.

The world-premiere production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow has run at the Phoenix since 2023. It won Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Set Design, the Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Set Design and Most Promising Newcomer, and the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play.

"It’s a must-see not just for superfans, but for anyone excited by boundary-pushing theatre that harnesses jaw-dropping special effects while telling a very relatable human story," LondonTheatre.co.uk's five-star review reads.

The show is directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, with a script by Kate Trefry from an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Trefry.

The current Stranger Things West End cast includes Jack Christou as Henry Creel, Stewart Clarke as Dr Brenner, Avril Maponga as Patty Newby, Max Potter as Bob Newby, Adam Wadsworth as James Hopper Jr., Edie Wright as Joyce Maldonado, Maximillian Graham as Alan Munson, Anastasia Koloko as Sue Anderson, Joshua McElroy as Lonnie Byers, Grace Alice Murray as Claudia Yount, Tom O'Brien as Ted Wheeler, Freya Taylor-Lester as Karen Childress, Andrew Whipp as Chief Hopper, Ammar Duffus as Charles Sinclair, Jack Gardner as Walter Henderson, Andy Langtree as Victor Creel, Lauren O'Neil as Virginia Creel, Rufus Wright as Principal Newby, and Maya Guinoubi, Tabitha Morley, Phoenix Hamer, and Emilia Rose alternating as Alice Creel.

Additionally, one week after the play closes in London, Stranger Things: The First Shadow will also end its Broadway in in New York on 3 January 2027. Learn more about Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway.

Matt and Ross Duffer, creative producers and creators of the Netflix series, said in a statement, “When the legendary Stephen Daldry first came to us with the idea of making a Stranger Things play, we were stunned — both by the fact that Stephen wanted to do this, and that he believed it could work. And boy, did it work.

“We remain awed by what Stephen, Kate Trefry, Justin Martin, and all the brilliant behind-the scenes wizards were able to pull off: cinematic theater unlike anything else out there. Their incredible work drew audiences from all over — a majority of whom had never even been to a Broadway show before.

“We’d also like to give a standing ovation to the incredibly gifted actors who stepped into these roles — including the Tony-nominated Louis McCartney — and to the fans, who made each and every performance so memorable.”

Book Stranger Things: The First Shadow tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Photo credit: Stranger Things: The First Shadow. (Photo courtesy of production)