Stranger Things: The First Shadow review

Stranger Things: The First Shadow – A Stage Phenomenon with Upside Down Potential

By Matt Adcock X @cleric20, Bluesky @cleric20.bsky.social)

Somewhere in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, a shadow is creeping – and it’s not just the one lurking beneath the stage. Stranger Things: The First Shadowcatapults us back to the days before Eleven cracked open the gates to the Upside Down, to a time when Henry Creel was just a troubled boy and the town’s darkest secrets simmered beneath the surface. 

This live-action stage prequel is a bold experiment. Can the world of Stranger Things translate from screen to stage, especially without our beloved gang of misfit heroes? The answer, it turns out, is a resounding “yes.” The play not only honours the tone of the original Netflix series but also brings something new – an intimate and haunting experience that feels like a séance conjured right in front of your eyes. The set is the first thing to draw gasps, a kinetic marvel of shifting walls and glowing portals. The creative team has outdone themselves, melding 1980s nostalgia with spine-tingling horror. 

Superb effects...

As lights flicker and eerie soundscapes envelop the audience, the Upside Down’s presence is almost tangible. The story, penned by Stranger Things show creators the Duffer Brothers alongside playwright Kate Trefry, follows young Henry Creel (yes, that Henry), exploring his descent into villainy and the strange forces taking root in Hawkins. But this isn’t just his tale. We meet a young Jim Hopper, a teenage Joyce Byers, and even a charmingly goofy Bob Newby – characters who will later form the heart of the series. Watching their formative years unfold is a delight, full of Easter eggs and poignant foreshadowing. The cast deliver powerhouse performances. 

Henry Creel is portrayed with chilling intensity, his transformation from fragile boy to something far darker leaving audiences enthralled. Meanwhile, Joyce and Hopper bring an emotional depth that grounds the supernatural thrills. What truly sets The First Shadow apart is its ability to weave dread into every scene. The Upside Down’s influence is felt in the creeping vines that encroach on the set, in the unspoken horrors hinted at in the dialogue, and in the bone-rattling climaxes that leave you breathless. This is Stranger Things at its best: an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in supernatural terror. 

 For die-hard fans, there’s plenty to chew on – from tantalizing new lore to breadcrumbs that deepen the main series’ mythology. Yet the play is also welcoming to newcomers, offering a self-contained narrative that doesn’t require prior knowledge of Demogorgons. The action sequences, are cleverly choreographed and rival their on-screen counterparts. And what the play sacrifices in spectacle, it makes up for in intimacy and emotional resonance. 

As the curtain falls, you’ll be left with a tingling sensation that the Upside Down is closer than you thought. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a bold, mesmerizing addition to the franchise – a must-see for fans and a thrilling introduction for those stepping into Hawkins for the first time. Prepare yourself: the shadows are calling, and they demand your attention.

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

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