REVIEW | Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre London

Isabella Pappas (Joyce Maldonado), Oscar Lloyd (James Hopper Jr), Christopher Buckley (Bob Newby) - photo by Netflix/Manuel Harlan

Written by Bronagh 

Disclaimer: gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.

General warnings: We would recommend 12+. Under 5s not permitted. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. This production contains gunfire audio, loud noises and explosions, haze and smoke, flashing lights and strobe, and strong language. There are depictions of various mental health conditions and disorders.

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Stranger Things took over Netflix, and the world, in 2016 and we have not looked back since. The world has been hooked on the show, set in fictional Hawkins, and it is fair to say it will go down as one of the greatest series in history. The Last Shadow is an original story from the Duffer Brothers, Kate Trefrey and Jack Thorne, set well before the series and following a group of school kids who have witnessed supernatural events, which is set to take London by storm.

I will preface my review by saying I am a huge Stranger Things fan, known for counting down the days to new series and devouring them in days. I went into The First Shadow without reading reviews, although I was aware of the high praise, and without reading about the plot. My honest opinion is that you don’t need to be an avid Stranger Things fan at all to appreciate The First Shadow; viewers who are aware of the series will be able to link together storylines and characters, but this isn’t absolutely essential. After a slew of weak movie/television to theatre adaptations, The First Shadow is thrilling and a winner in my eyes.

The show starts with the disappearance of a naval ship and a lab experiment, which introduces the Upside Down. Within the first few minutes of curtains up we have smoke, gunshots, shouting, and actors in the audience. This is a theme throughout, with actors making their way into the stalls. The famous theme tune plays, genuinely sending chills down my spine, and then we are in Hawkins in 1959. We are introduced to Henry Creel, played by Louis McCartney), the weird new kid in town who brings a sense of mystery along with dark powers. He strikes up a friendship with Patty, played by Ella Karuna Williams, and Hawkins is turned upside down for the first time.

The acting is incredible, with characters ranging from the strange kids, popular kids, parents and beyond. Louis McCartney is amazing as Henry, giving a very energetic performance. He plays the outsider and ‘weirdo’ very well, and cannot be faulted at all. Isabella Pappas plays Joyce, a young and fierce theatre director who is basically exactly like watching Winona Ryder on the stage. Oscar Lloyd plays James Hopper Junior, a character made iconic by David Harbour in the Netflix series, bringing the swagger to the stage. The whole cast put on a wonderful performance, and you’re unable to take your eyes off the stage for more than a second.

The lighting and set design, by Jon Clark and Miriam Beuther respectively, make The First Shadow. The lighting veers between sinister and bright, the set transforms between a high school, a bar and the Creels’ spooky house. The whole experience is eye popping, the effects are of such high quality I almost don’t want to know how they were managed!

The Last Shadow is a quality and significant piece of London theatre, there’s nothing quite like it. I felt like I was in Hawkins, I was in the Creels’ house, I was in the laboratory with Dr Brenner. The First Shadow is my show of 2023, which will be extremely difficult to top.

At the Phoenix Theatre until 25th August 2024.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆