Fans of “Stranger Things” can now get a close look at the process behind “The First Shadow,” the stage adaptation that’s soon hitting London’s West End.
In time for what Netflix calls “Stranger Things” Day — the date that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp in the TV series) went missing in Season 1 — the streamer released a video giving a preview into “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” This comes after Netflix’s recent reveal of the first images from the play, which showed Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) standing off with Dr. Brenner (Patrick Vaill), Lonnie Byers (Chase Brown) holding Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas) and more.
In the featurette, key creatives discuss how the “The First Shadow” came together and what it entails, including playwright Kate Trefry, who teases, “There are so many Easter eggs. It’s Easter morning.”
“The main thrust of the story is Patty [Newby, played by Ella Karuna Williams] and her little, budding romance with Henry,” Trefery says. Producer Sonia Friedman adds, “It’s also the origin story of how Henry Creel became Number One.”
Set in Hawkins, Ind. in 1959, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” begins as a young Jim Hopper’s (Oscar Lloyd) car won’t start, Bob Newby’s (Christopher Buckley) sister Patty won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.
The cast of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” also includes Shane Attwooll (Chief Hopper), Kemi Awoderu (Sue Anderson), Ammar Duffus (Charles Sinclair), Gilles Geary (Ted Wheeler), Florence Guy (Karen Childress), Max Harwood (Allen Munson), Michael Jibson (Victor Creel), Matthew Pidgeon (Father Newby), Calum Ross (Walter Henderson), Maisie Norma Seaton (Claudia Henderson) and Lauren Ward (Virginia Creel).
“Stranger Things” creators Ross and Matt Duffer co-wrote the story for “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” with Trefry and serve as creative producers. 21 Laps Entertainment is associate producer. Stephen Daldry directs, with Justin Martin as co-director. The show hails from Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions.
See the featurette below.
