As a huge Stranger Things fan, I am STILL in mourning over the Netflix series ending.
Nope. I’m not over it.
And I never will be.
I BELIEVE!!
So, naturally, when Stranger Things: The First Shadow came to London, seeing the stage play was always something we planned to do. This summer, we finally made the time and honestly?
It did not disappoint.
If you’re a fan of the Netflix Stranger Things series, this West End production is an experience you really don’t want to miss.
Welcome back to Hawkins, Indiana
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a prequel to the Netflix series, taking us all the way back to Hawkins, Indiana, in 1959. Making it 24 years before the events of the TV show.
We meet a young Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado and, most importantly, a new kid in town Henry Creel.
The play explores Henry’s story in much more depth and gives us a fascinating look at the events that eventually lead him towards becoming the Vecna we know from Stranger Things.
And that is about as much as I’m going to say.
No spoilers here!
Because honestly, this is one of those shows where you really want to experience the story for yourself.
It is SO clever
We came out of the theatre and I was still processing what we’d just watched days later.
The special effects are genuinely incredible.
There were so many moments where I found myself thinking, “Did I just see that?!”
There are Easter eggs everywhere for Stranger Things fans, and those little moments of recognition make the whole experience even more fun.
But what really surprised me was just how immersive it felt.
You don’t feel like you’re simply sitting in a London theatre watching a stage production. You feel like you’ve been transported straight into the world created by the Duffer Brothers and Netflix.
At one point, I genuinely thought a Demogorgon was about to appear behind me.
Yes, I was that invested.
And some of the effects are surprisingly gruesome too. There are definitely moments that made me jump and a few that had me thinking, “OKAY, I was not expecting that!”
There has clearly been an enormous amount of care and attention put into getting this production right. With a show as visually iconic as Stranger Things, the effects could so easily have looked tacky or, quite frankly, horrific in the wrong way.
Instead, they are clever, atmospheric and incredibly well done.
The set design is fantastic
The Stranger Things: The First Shadow set design deserves a special mention too.
Hawkins feels completely real, and the attention to detail is fantastic. And the laboratory…
That lab.
It is just as grim, creepy and unsettling as it is in the Netflix series.
There are so many little details for fans to spot that I was constantly looking around wondering what I might notice next.
And then there’s Scoops Ahoy!
Now, if you’re a Stranger Things geek like me, there is another very important reason to arrive early.
Scoops Ahoy!
Yes, the theatre has its very own Stranger Things-themed ice cream experience!
There are two themed ice creams to choose from and, obviously, I had to have one.
I mean…
How could I not?!
When you’re already fully immersed in the Stranger Things universe, eating ice cream from Scoops Ahoy before going into the show just feels like the right thing to do. Unfortunatly no Steve or Robin but still really cool!!
Is Stranger Things: The First Shadow worth seeing?
If you’re a Stranger Things fan, absolutely.
Even if you’re still emotionally recovering from the end of the Netflix series, this feels like another chance to spend a few hours in Hawkins and dive even deeper into the story.
It isn’t just a stage adaptation of the Netflix show. It feels like a proper expansion of the Stranger Things universe, giving us more history, more answers and a much deeper understanding of Henry Creel.
And for me, that’s what made it so special.
I went in as a massive Stranger Things fan with very high expectations and somehow, it still managed to surprise me.
I laughed, I jumped, I stared at the stage in disbelief, I hunted for Easter eggs…
And I left the theatre thinking:
“I need to watch Stranger Things again.”
Obviously.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow – London
Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0JP
Tickets: officially advertised from £38.80, with selected performances available from around £25 through ticket offers. Prices vary depending on the date, performance and seat.
Booking until: 27 December 2026
Running time: approximately 3 hours including an interval
Age guidance: 12+
If you’re a Netflix Stranger Things fan visiting London, or you’re looking for something a little different to do in the West End, this is definitely one to put on your list.
And if you see me wandering around London still talking about it months later…
Mind your business.
I BELIEVE.
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