While Stranger Things season five is still in the far future—but finally back in production, at least, with the Duffer Brothers and company—the Netflix series’ official theater spin-off prequel is now in previews.
Here’s the first official look at performance imagery from Stranger Things: The First Shadow directed by Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin. Written by Kate Trefry, the play explores more of Henry Creel’s origins before he ultimately becomes Vecna; we also get to know more about Joyce and Hopper’s youth in 1959. We’re guessing the just revealed first act title “Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere” likely centers Joyce’s story as she seeks to graduate high school and get out of Hawkins.
Previews for the play started just last week with the production opening December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End. The cast that takes us back in time to Hawkins features Oscar Lloyd (The 47th) as James Hopper, Jr., Louis McCartney (Game of Thrones) as Henry Creel, Isabella Pappas (Finding Alice) as Joyce Maldonaldo, Christopher Buckley (David Copperfield) as Bob Newby, and Patrick Vaill (Macbeth) as Dr. Brenner. Here’s a look at the ensemble:
Netflix shared a synopsis for the play, which hints that it might contain clues to how the series will wrap up eventually:
About 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.
Tickets are currently on sale for Stranger Things: The First Shadow through August 24, 2024; visit the official site to learn more.
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