“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is shaping up to replicate the high stakes of the Netflix drama, according to photos released from rehearsals of the West End play.
Among the first looks are images of Henry Creel and Dr Brenner (played by Louis McCartney and Patrick Vaill) in an intense face-to-face confrontation, and Lonnie Byers sitting with and holding Joyce Maldonado (played by Chase Brown and Isabella Pappas), as well as the larger company and Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer.
In addition, the production has launched a discounted ticket initiative called “Shadow Seats” in partnership with TodayTix. For each performance of the show, 11 pairs of tickets will be available for £19.59 each, with some of the seats located in the front row of the stalls. Shadow seats will not be visible on the main booking page, but will be available for sale through a lottery on the TodayTix app every Friday from 3 November. The first winners will be drawn on 6 November for the preview performances, which begin on 17 November.
“We’re excited to launch our Shadow Seats initiative today for ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow,'” said producer Sonia Friedman. “Offering affordable tickets, available to everyone, in great locations in the house for every performance, in the hope that theatre lovers and new audiences can discover the joy and excitement of live theatre, is something we are very passionate about.”
Set in Hawkins, Indiana in 1959, Stranger Things: The First Shadow” begins when young Jim Hopper’s (Oscar Lloyd) car won’t start, Bob Newby’s (Christopher Buckley) sister (Ella Karuna Williams) won’t take his radio show seriously, and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family discovers that a fresh start isn’t so easy and that the shadows of the past have a very long reach.
Kate Trefry wrote the play from an original story co-written with Ross and Matt Duffer and Jack Thorne. Stephen Daldry directs with Justin Martin as co-director. The Duffers serve as creative producers and 21 Laps Entertainment is associate producer.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” will open at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End.
