I should probably pause here to tell those who haven’t seen the show exactly what it is I’m fangirling about. In a nutshell, “Stranger Things” takes place in a fictional town, Hawkins, Indiana, in the early 1980s. It follows a group of kids as they investigate an alternate dimension, uncovering government secrets along the way, whilst battling against the terrifying monsters that have crossed over from the ‘Upside Down’.
A ‘Stranger Things’ Theater Show?
Combining supernatural, horror, and sci-fi elements reminiscent of Spielberg, Stephen King, and Guillermo de Toro—with the fun and quirkiness of coming of age ’80s movies like “The Goonies”—the show absolutely exploded Netflix in 2016. It quickly established itself as a vital part of modern pop culture. Showcasing much loved actors such as Winona Ryder, Charlie Heaton, and David Harbour, it also gave rise to a new generation of younger actors and stars such as Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, and Millie Bobby Brown.
It’s certainly been a hellfire of a ride, and each time a new series is released, I get nervous. There was a moment, during the second series, where I worried that they’d killed it. The show could so easily have worked as a standalone series, and on first watch the second series didn’t quite match the thrilling excitement and energy of the first. Thankfully, the third and fourth series truly outdid themselves and together, it all just fits.
So, when the announcement came for a theatre show, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” naturally, I was concerned. Was this just a moneymaking attempt? Would it remain loyal to the TV show? How on Earth could they reduce such an epic series and universe to just a single stage? Well, friends, I’ve seen some truly theatre shows in my time—”Phantom of the Opera,” “Wicked,” “Hamilton,” and “The Lion King” to name a few. And this is by far up there with the best.
Respect for its Source Material
Written by Kate Tefry, and co-created by the Duffer Brothers, the creators of the original show, it serves as a prequel, set in 1959 in Hawkins. Confounded by a set of mysterious pet killings, it follows much loved characters such as Joyce Byers (then Maldonado) and Jim Hopper as their younger selves, along with some fun new faces, as they investigate these strange occurrences and begin to discover that Hawkins is not all as it seems. At the same time, we follow Henry Creele, the dark, mysterious and downright creepy new kid in town, who is both running from and forced to reconcile with the shadows of his past and the terrifying powers that have befallen him.
There are two things that really stood out to me from this production. Firstly—much to my relief—it is clear to tell from the offset this theater production comes from nothing but utter love and respect for the original series. The plot fits in so seamlessly with the rest of the universe that you could almost imagine it was written from day one, whilst the characters seem to have simply travelled back in time to their former selves. Joyce really IS how I imagined her to be, and it totally makes sense how Hopper becomes the tired, depleted character that we see in the initial episodes of the TV show. And it encapsulates ’50s nostalgia in the same way that the show does for the ’80s, through the colourful and fun outfits, the music, the cultural references.
A Spectacular Set Design
Secondly, I think this is perhaps one of the best examples of WHY theatre exists, and the magical ways in which it can bring something to life. Whilst I was concerned initially about the transition from TV screen to stage, the creators instead use this to their advantage, borrowing aesthetic elements from the show to provide a sort of hybrid theatre/cinematic watching experience. It’s the first theatre show I’ve seen that uses screens in such an effective way, as a both a method for storytelling, and as a way of imitating the chaptered structuring of the series. Every single detail seems to have been accounted for; it even manages to physically frame each act with the trademark red bordering that we see in the opening credits of the show.
…this theater production comes from nothing but utter love and respect for the original series.”
The set design is perhaps one of the most fun and spectacular I’ve seen, navigating us through an exciting array of different places, from ship decks to school gymnasiums, to graveyards, to attics, emulating the fast paced nature of the TV show. And it draws us into the action by forcing us to engage in a fully sensory experience; whether its being blinded by torchlights, nearly choking on smoke machines, or jumping as characters dash out and throw things into the audience, it immerses us into the universe in ways that the TV show cannot.
A Fun Way to Relive ‘Stranger Things’
And before I bid you all farewell—I can’t give away too many more spoilers—I must praise the astounding talents of the cast members who manage to become as equally loved as the characters in the show, despite only being with us for such a limited amount of time. Henry Creele, played by Louis McCartney, embodies all that we might expect of the character we come to know in the series, and McCartney delivers an exceptional origin story. At times it feels more like choreography as opposed to acting as his movements and reactions are so precise and captivating to watch. And shout out to a personal favourite of mine, Bob Newby (who I also adore in the TV series) played by Callum Maxwell. He provides the light relief and comedy one always appreciates in such dark, grisly productions, and he plays the role exquisitely.
So, for those that might have been on the fence about this, especially as fans of the TV show, I implore you to go and watch it. It neither detracts nor takes over from the TV series but simply inspires and ignites the imagination, bringing to life a much loved universe, whilst serving as a perfect example of how television and theatre can complement one another.
You can click here to purchase tickets or learn more about the show.
