Stranger Things: The First Shadow has been on our list of shows to see for a while, so when we finally made it to London’s Phoenix Theatre, we were all really excited. We’re huge fans of the Netflix series, and I was particularly interested to discover more about Henry Creel’s story and how everything began. Having now seen it for ourselves, I can safely say it was an afternoon none of us will forget!
On Sunday 8th November, I headed down to London with Will, Lillie and Ollie to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre. We were all excited, although I did wonder how they were going to recreate some of the supernatural elements of the television series on stage. After all, it’s one thing creating terrifying creatures and alternate dimensions using television special effects, but doing it in front of a live audience is quite another!
As it turns out, I needn’t have wondered because the production was absolutely brilliant, and by the time we left the theatre, all four of us were already talking about how much we’d love to see it again.
Arriving at the Phoenix Theatre
We travelled into London by train and walked from King’s Cross to the Phoenix Theatre, which took us around 18 minutes. It was a straightforward walk and meant we didn’t need to worry about navigating the Underground. If you’d rather use the Tube, Tottenham Court Road station is only a short walk from the theatre.
We had booked seats in the Dress Circle, so our entrance was through a side door rather than the main theatre entrance. Almost immediately, we spotted a Scoops Ahoy sign above the bar, which made us smile. It’s one of those little details that probably wouldn’t mean much to someone who hasn’t watched Stranger Things, but for fans like us, it was a lovely touch and helped set the scene before we’d even reached our seats.
As we made our way upstairs, I spotted the sign for the ladies’ toilets and decided I’d better go before the performance started. I joined the queue and stood there for around ten minutes without making much progress, only to discover that there were just two cubicles! Thankfully, someone mentioned that there were more toilets on the opposite side of the auditorium, so I headed over there and was in and out within minutes. If you’re visiting the Phoenix Theatre, that’s definitely worth knowing, particularly if you’re trying to get yourself organised before the show starts.
Our seats were in Row K of the Dress Circle, which is the very back row, and I have to say I was really pleased with them. We had plenty of legroom, the seats were comfortable, and we could see the stage really well. The only slight restriction was that we couldn’t see the very top of the stage framing, which did become relevant during one of the special effects later in the performance. Other than that, I couldn’t fault our view, especially considering we’d paid £55 each for our tickets.
What Is Stranger Things: The First Shadow About?
If you’re familiar with Stranger Things, you’ll already know Henry Creel as the boy who eventually becomes Vecna, one of the most terrifying characters in the Netflix series. What makes The First Shadow so interesting is that rather than simply showing us the monster he becomes, it takes us back to his childhood and allows us to see a completely different side of him.
The main story takes place in Hawkins, Indiana, in 1959, although the production actually begins much earlier, with events in 1943 that help explain the origins of the supernatural forces at work. We learn more about Dimension X, the Mind Flayer and Dr Martin Brenner, all of which add another layer to the story we’ve already watched unfold on television.
When Henry and his family move to Hawkins, hoping for a fresh start, he finds himself surrounded by people who don’t understand him and struggling with frightening experiences that are becoming increasingly difficult to control. It’s here that we meet younger versions of several familiar characters, including Joyce, Jim Hopper, Bob Newby, Ted Wheeler and Karen Wheeler.
I really enjoyed this part of the story because it was lovely seeing characters we already know in a completely different stage of their lives. Joyce was particularly good, and I thought the actress captured her personality brilliantly. She really did feel like a younger version of the Joyce we’ve come to know through the Netflix series.
There were also some very funny moments involving Ted and Karen Wheeler, long before they became the married couple we know. Ted is portrayed as a rather clueless jock, while Karen is the typical ditzy cheerleader, and their scenes provided some welcome humour alongside the darker storyline. Bob Newby’s radio show was another highlight, bringing a bit of light-hearted entertainment to the production.
One of the things I appreciated most was that the story was easy to follow. Sometimes when a television series has such a complicated mythology, you can find yourself getting a little lost when they introduce new information, but I didn’t feel that way at all. Everything fitted together nicely, and it was fascinating to see how events from Henry’s childhood connected with the Stranger Things story we already knew.
Seeing a Different Side of Henry Creel
For me, one of the most interesting parts of the production was the way it made me feel about Henry. We’ve spent so much time watching him as Vecna that it’s easy to think of him as nothing more than a monster, but The First Shadow shows us the frightened and vulnerable child underneath.
His friendship with Patty Newby, Bob’s sister, is particularly touching because she’s one of the few people who seems to see beyond his strange behaviour and genuinely cares about him. Watching their relationship develop, while knowing what Henry eventually becomes, added a sadness to the story that I hadn’t really expected.
There were several moments when I actually felt sorry for him. You could see that he was struggling with things he didn’t understand and that the darkness taking hold of him was becoming increasingly difficult to resist. It doesn’t excuse the terrible things he does, of course, but it does make you look at his character differently.
The actor playing Henry was excellent, especially during the scenes where he appeared to be under the control of the Mind Flayer. His physical movements and the way he portrayed those psychological episodes were incredibly convincing. I can only imagine how demanding those scenes must be to perform night after night.
I think this is one of the reasons the stage production works so well as a prequel. It doesn’t just give you more information about a familiar character; it changes the way you think about him.
The Special Effects Were Incredible
Before we went, I was probably most curious about the special effects. Stranger Things relies so heavily on its supernatural world that I wondered whether a theatre production could really do it justice. I needn’t have worried because some of the effects were absolutely awesome, and there were several moments when I found myself wondering how on earth they’d managed to achieve what we were seeing.
The use of lighting and double screens to create Dimension X was particularly impressive. The way the images worked together gave the stage a completely different sense of depth, and when the Mind Flayer appeared, it really did feel as though we were getting a glimpse into another world.
I also loved how cleverly the lighting was used throughout the performance. It wasn’t simply there to illuminate the actors; it played a huge part in creating the atmosphere and making the supernatural scenes feel believable.
There were a couple of scenes involving animals that were particularly disturbing, although technically very impressive. A cat and a rat appeared so realistic that when things took a rather gruesome turn, it was quite shocking. Will later said he felt slightly traumatised by the broken cat and the exploding rat, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how convincing those effects were!
Another moment that really stood out was Patty’s fall. I won’t explain exactly what happens because I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone planning to see the show, but the way it was staged was incredibly clever. It’s one of those effects that leaves you wondering whether your eyes have just played tricks on you.
There was one small disappointment for Lillie, though. She’d seen footage of the Broadway production featuring an enormous Mind Flayer on stage and had been really looking forward to seeing it. During our performance, we could see what appeared to be sections of the creature around the stage framing, rather than the huge creature she’d been expecting. However, because we couldn’t see the very top of the stage from our seats, it’s possible we were missing part of the effect. It certainly didn’t spoil the performance, but I could understand why she felt a little disappointed when she’d been expecting something she’d already seen online.
Was Stranger Things: The First Shadow Scary?
I wouldn’t say I found the production particularly frightening, although it was definitely tense in places. There were moments when the atmosphere became quite unsettling, especially during Henry’s episodes, and the combination of lighting, sound and movement was very effective at building suspense.
What I liked was that it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Just as with the television series, there were plenty of funny moments mixed in with the darker scenes, and I think that balance is part of what makes Stranger Things so enjoyable.
The teenage characters brought a lot of humour to the story, and some of the physical comedy was genuinely funny. It gave you a chance to relax between the more intense moments, which made the darker scenes even more effective when they came along.
I did notice a few younger children in the audience, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend it for young children unless they’re already familiar with Stranger Things and their parents are confident they’ll cope with the content. Even then, there are some disturbing scenes, particularly involving the animals, which could be upsetting for more sensitive viewers.
The official recommendation is for ages 12 and over, and I think that’s sensible guidance, although every child is different. For teenagers who are already fans of the series, however, I think it’s a fantastic experience.
Refreshments, Merchandise and a Few Little Disappointments
Our performance started at 3pm and finished at approximately 6pm, with an interval in between. Despite being quite a long production, I didn’t find myself clock-watching at all because there was always something happening to keep us interested.
We bought refreshments while we were there, which were around the prices you’d normally expect to pay at a West End theatre. I also bought the official programme for £10, and I’m really pleased I did because I loved the way they’d included yearbook-style photographs of the cast and production. It fitted the whole Hawkins High School setting perfectly and made it feel like a lovely souvenir of our afternoon.
Lillie bought one of the reusable cups, which I think was around £11 and came with a soft drink of her choice. We both had our eye on the pin badges and the triple-charm keyring too, but unfortunately, they’d sold out. That was a shame because we’d have loved to bring those home as well.
If you’re going and there’s a particular piece of merchandise you want, I’d definitely suggest having a look as soon as you arrive rather than waiting until the end of the performance.
Was Stranger Things: The First Shadow Worth £55 a Ticket?
Absolutely! I know a trip to the West End can become expensive, particularly when you’re buying tickets for several people and factoring in travel, food and drinks, but I genuinely felt we got excellent value for money.
At £55 each, our seats in the back row of the Dress Circle were comfortable and gave us a really good view of the performance. The acting was brilliant, the storyline kept us engaged and the special effects were unlike anything I’d expected to see on a theatre stage.
More importantly, we all enjoyed it. Sometimes when you go to see something as a family, there’ll be one person who loves it and someone else who isn’t quite so enthusiastic, but that certainly wasn’t the case this time.
In fact, almost as soon as the performance finished, Lillie announced that she wanted to see it again, and Will, Ollie and I all agreed with her. I think that says more about how good the production was than anything else I could write. When you’ve just spent three hours watching a show and would happily turn around and watch it all over again, you know you’ve had a good afternoon!
Would I Recommend Stranger Things: The First Shadow?
If you’re a Stranger Things fan, then yes, without hesitation. I think The First Shadow is a must-see, particularly if you’re interested in learning more about Henry Creel and the events that eventually lead to him becoming Vecna.
I loved the way the production brought together familiar characters, new relationships and the supernatural mythology of the series without simply repeating what we’d already seen on television. It gave us a different perspective on Henry and made me feel much more sympathetic towards him than I’d expected.
The special effects were incredible, the acting was excellent and there was just the right mixture of tension, humour and emotion to keep us entertained throughout. Even the little disappointments, such as the sold-out merchandise and our slightly restricted view of the top of the stage, were minor compared with how much we enjoyed the afternoon.
I also think it’s a lovely experience to share with older children and teenagers who are fans of the series. With everyone getting older, finding activities that we all genuinely want to do together isn’t always easy, so it was particularly nice to have an afternoon where we were all equally excited about what we were seeing.
We’ve had some brilliant days out in London with the children as they’ve got older, including our visit to the Museum of Illusions London, which was another big hit with our teenagers. It’s lovely finding experiences that we can all enjoy together, especially now that the days of soft play centres and children’s attractions are well behind us!
At the time of writing, the London production is scheduled to finish in December 2026, so if you’ve been thinking about booking tickets, I wouldn’t leave it too long. You can check the latest availability and performance dates on the official Stranger Things: The First Shadow website.
As for us, we came away with a much better understanding of Henry Creel, a few questions about how they managed those incredible effects and a shared wish to see the whole thing again. I’d call that a very successful family trip to the theatre!
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
Where is Stranger Things: The First Shadow showing? We saw the production at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End. We walked from King’s Cross in approximately 18 minutes, although Tottenham Court Road Underground station is also nearby.
How long does the performance last? Our 3pm performance finished at around 6pm, including an interval, so allow approximately three hours.
Do you need to have watched Stranger Things first? I think you’d be able to follow the main storyline without watching the television series, but you’d definitely miss some of the connections between characters. Personally, I’d recommend watching the Netflix series first to get the most out of it.
Is it suitable for children? The official age recommendation is 12+, and I think it’s best suited to teenagers and adults who are comfortable with supernatural horror and some disturbing imagery.
Are the Dress Circle seats good? We sat in Row K, the back row, and were very happy with our view and legroom. We couldn’t see the very top of the stage framing, but otherwise, the seats were excellent for the price.
Would we go again? All four of us said yes as soon as we left the theatre, which probably tells you everything you need to know!
Have you seen Stranger Things: The First Shadow, or is it on your list of things to do in London? I’d love to know what you thought, particularly about those amazing special effects.