“Stranger Things” Stage Play Announced

By
Garth Franklin
-
Netflix

Netflix has announced “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” a stage play spin-off of its popular supernatural drama series, will premiere at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End later this year.

The story is rooted in the mythology of the series and takes place in Hawkins in 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.

Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions are producing the play which aims to “take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension” with a new adventure that “will take you right back to the beginning of the ‘Stranger Things’ story – and may hold the key to the end.”

The project is based on an original story by series creators the Duffer Brothers along with “Enola Holmes” writer Jack Thorne and “Stranger Things” staff writer Kate Trefry with the latter writing the play. Tony-winning director Stephen Daldry helms, with co-direction from Justin Martin.

The Duffer Brothers, who serve as creative producers, say in a statement:

“We are beyond excited about Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Collaborating with the brilliant Stephen Daldry has been nothing short of inspiring, and Kate Trefry has written a play that is at turns surprising, scary, and heartfelt. You will meet endearing new characters, as well as very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that sets the groundwork for the future of Stranger Things. We’re dying to tell you more about the story but won’t — it’s more fun to discover it for yourself. Can’t wait to see you nerds in London!”

Tickets for the play will go on sale this spring.