Stranger Things: The First Shadow to close in West End and on Broadway
The stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set to conclude its runs at London’s Phoenix Theatre and New York’s Marquis Theatre after final extensions. The production, inspired by the Netflix series, has earned multiple awards on both sides of the Atlantic.
Producers Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions have confirmed that Stranger Things: The First Shadow will close at the Phoenix Theatre in London on 27 December 2026 and at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway on 3 January 2027. The play opened in the West End on 14 December 2023 and began previews in New York on 28 March 2025, with its official Broadway opening on 22 April 2025.
Written by Kate Trefry from an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Trefry, the play acts as a prequel to the Netflix series Stranger Things, set in Hawkins, Indiana in 1959. It is directed by Stephen Daldry with co-direction by Justin Martin.
The West End production received the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play, two Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Set Design, as well as the Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Set Design and Most Promising Newcomer. Meanwhile, the Broadway version won three Tony Awards.
In February 2026, the Broadway production was filmed for a forthcoming Netflix release, extending the reach of the theatrical experience beyond the stage. Over 1,500 performances have taken place in London alone.
Matt and Ross Duffer, creators of the original Netflix series and creative producers on the play, praised Stephen Daldry and the creative team for delivering “cinematic theatre unlike anything else out there.” They highlighted the show’s ability to attract audiences including many who had never attended a Broadway show before.
The Duffers also acknowledged the talented actors, including Tony-nominated Louis McCartney, and expressed gratitude to fans who contributed to memorable performances throughout the run.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow exemplifies the growing synergy between streaming franchises and immersive theatre, blending television storytelling with live dramatic spectacle in a commercially successful format.
