Stranger Things: The First Shadow Review

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

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This First Shadow review comes from a genuine visit to the Phoenix Theatre on London's West End, and it's a mixed bag. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a visual spectacle that pushes the boundaries of what live theatre can do, but underneath all that dazzling stagecraft, the writing simply doesn't hold up. Two of its three stars are earned almost entirely by the effects team. Here's the full breakdown.

Cool Factor: 3/5 - Cool

What is Stranger Things: The First Shadow?

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a stage prequel to the Netflix series, set in Hawkins, Indiana in 1959. Written by Kate Trefry from an original story by the Duffer Brothers and Jack Thorne, it's directed by Stephen Daldry and co-directed by Justin Martin. The production opened at the Phoenix Theatre in December 2023 and won the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment in 2024. It runs for around three hours including an interval, and is recommended for ages 12 and up.

The story follows young versions of Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado and Bob Newby as they cross paths with the new kid in town, Henry Creel, whose arrival starts to unravel something dark beneath Hawkins' surface. It's the origin story of Vecna, essentially, and it sits within the official Stranger Things canon.

First impressions

Walking into the Phoenix Theatre, there's an immediate sense that this is not a normal night at the theatre. The set design by Miriam Buether is ambitious from the start, and you can feel the production value before a single line is delivered. The costumes, designed by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, are excellent throughout, grounding the 1950s setting with real attention to detail and style. The cast looked the part, and the period feel was convincing.

The cast themselves were generally solid. There was genuine energy on stage and some strong individual performances. But, and this is a recurring theme in this First Shadow review, the American accents were a problem. They felt forced and inconsistent across most of the ensemble, which made it harder to connect with the characters on an emotional level. When you're trying to invest in a storyline and the delivery keeps pulling you out of the moment, that's a real issue.

The experience

Let's start with what works, because when it works, it really works.

The visual effects and staging are, without exaggeration, some of the most impressive I've seen in any theatre production. The creative team have done extraordinary things with the stage. The way they used segmented sections of the back screen to create entirely separate rooms, environments and even a ship was genuinely inventive. At its best, it felt immersive and wondrous, the kind of thing that makes you forget you're sitting in a theatre seat.

There were specific moments of pure brilliance. The levitation scenes, characters and a cat rising into the air, were jaw-dropping the first time. The falling angel sequence was breathtaking. The way light, projection and physical staging combined created something that genuinely felt new for live performance. Two of the three stars in this review are earned by the effects department alone. They've taken the experience of theatre to a level that felt like a different medium entirely.

The costume design deserves its own mention, too. Every outfit felt considered and purposeful, and across a three-hour show with a large ensemble, that's no small feat.

But then there's everything else.

The storyline lacked substance. For a three-hour production, the plot felt remarkably thin. The pacing was all over the place: long scenes building on a single character would suddenly give way to entire story beats being rushed through in seconds. It lurched from slow and contemplative to fast and shallow with no real rhythm or control.

The writing is the production's biggest weakness. It never managed to build genuine empathy with any of the characters. You should care about these people, their fates, their connections, but the script never earns that investment. The forced American accents only made this worse, creating a barrier between the audience and the emotional core of the story.

And then there's the repetition. The awe-inspiring effects that floored you in the first act start to lose their edge as they're recycled. Those red lasers sweeping up and down the stage? By my count, they appeared at least eight times. The levitation trick with the rising characters and that cat? Used at least three times. When your biggest asset is spectacle, repeating the same spectacle erodes its power. By the second half, moments that should have landed with a gasp were met with a shrug.

The practical effects for anything involving the Mind Flayer or the Gorgon creatures were, frankly, comical. They looked like a well-funded school production. Foam, rubber and visible rigging that completely broke the immersion the digital effects had worked so hard to build. The gap in quality between the digital staging and the physical creature work was jarring.

Special shoutout to the ridiculous animatronic cat, though. Whether intentionally funny or not, it was a highlight.

It all left me with a sense of loss for what this could have been. The spectacle was there, the budget was clearly there, but the writing felt half-arsed. It had the feel of something made for TikTok or made for television rather than for the stage, all moments, no substance. A theatre production designed to be clipped rather than experienced.

Value for money

This is where it stings. Tickets for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre start from around £39 on platforms like TodayTix, but decent seats will set you back £80 or more, and premium spots go well beyond that. For a family or a couple, you're easily looking at a few hundred pounds once you factor in transport and a meal in central London.

At that price, with so many brilliant alternatives on the West End right now, it's a hard sell. Kids would almost certainly love it. The effects and the Stranger Things branding are a dream combo for younger audiences. But adults looking for something with real depth, emotional weight and strong writing will probably leave feeling short-changed. There is definitely better theatre to see in London for that money.

If you can grab one of TodayTix's £25 Rush tickets, the value equation changes dramatically and I'd say go for it. At full price, it's harder to justify.

The verdict

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a technical marvel wrapped around a disappointing script. The effects team deserve every award going; the staging is genuinely groundbreaking and pushes what live theatre can achieve. But spectacle alone cannot carry a three-hour production, and the writing really lets it down. The pacing is inconsistent, the story lacks emotional depth, and the repetition of its best tricks dulls their impact over time.

For fans of the series, or for families with kids who'll lose their minds at the levitation and the lights, it's still a decent outing. For everyone else, it's a frustrating reminder of what a production with this budget and this creative team could have achieved with a sharper script.

Cool Factor

★★★☆☆

3 out of 5 — Cool

Overall, a solid 3/5 Cool. The effects team absolutely earned two of those three stars with staging that genuinely pushes what live theatre can do: the sectioned screen work, the levitation sequences and the falling angel scene were breathtaking. But it didn't hit Stone cold because the writing never gave those visuals a story worth caring about. Thin characters, inconsistent pacing and too much repetition of the same tricks meant the spectacle couldn't carry the full three hours on its own. A sharper script with half the budget would have been a better show.

If you're looking for more honest, no-fluff reviews of things worth your time and money, have a browse of the CoolCuration blog for our latest takes.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is currently playing at the Phoenix Theatre, 110 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0JP.

FAQs

Is Stranger Things: The First Shadow worth it?

It depends on what you're after. If you want to see some of the most impressive staging and visual effects on the West End right now, it delivers. If you want a strong story with well-developed characters and emotional depth, you may leave disappointed. At £80+ a ticket, there are better options in London for the price. If you can grab a Rush or group-rate ticket, it's a much better deal.

How long is Stranger Things: The First Shadow?

The show runs for approximately three hours, including one interval.

Do you need to have watched Stranger Things to enjoy the play?

Not necessarily, but it helps. The play is a prequel set in 1959 and tells the origin story of Vecna/Henry Creel. You'll follow the plot without series knowledge, but many of the references and character connections will land harder if you've seen the show.

How much are Stranger Things: The First Shadow tickets?

Tickets start from around £39 on discount platforms, with most standard seats priced from £55 to over £100. Premium seats can cost significantly more. Group discounts are available for bookings of 10 or more, with rates as low as £49.50 for midweek performances.

Is Stranger Things: The First Shadow suitable for children?

The recommended age is 12 and over. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult, and under-5s are not permitted. The production includes loud noises, flashing lights, strobe effects, haze, strong language and depictions of mental health conditions.

Where is Stranger Things: The First Shadow playing?

The show is at the Phoenix Theatre on Charing Cross Road in London's West End. The nearest Tube stations are Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square.

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