Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions have announced Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a new play by Kate Trefry, today (1st March). The forthcoming theatrical drama is based on a story written by Trefry, Jack Thorne, and the Duffer Brothers, creators of the Stranger Things universe.

The play, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, will have its world premiere in late 2023 at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End.

"Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft  to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the  Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end," it says in the press release.

Since Kate Trefry is a writer and co-executive producer on the hit horror series Stranger Things, the play will be based on the mythology and world of the show.

Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Kate Trefry. Cr. Brad Torchia/Netflix © 2023

The story will take place in Hawkins, 1959, before the events of Stranger Things. It follows student Henry Creel, who arrives in the "regular town with regular worries" with his family.

In addition, the play gives backstory for well-known characters such as Jim Hopper, Bob Newby, and Joyce Maldonado.

"Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s  sister 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, " it says about the plot.

Welcome to Hawkins, 1959. Before the world turned upside down…

Stranger Things: The First Shadow. A new story live on stage.

London | Late 2023 | https://t.co/6dx4JppFhw pic.twitter.com/DTcWn21wXE

— Stranger Things On Stage (@STOnStage) March 1, 2023

Netflix's successful horror series Stranger Things made its debut in summer 2016. Last year, it received its fourth season, which topped the Netflix Most Popular English TV list at number one with over 1.35 billion hours viewed.

The series has received numerous nominations and has won over 70 awards worldwide. Among them are several Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Drama Series.

Matt and Ross Duffer said, "We are beyond excited about Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Collaborating with the brilliant Stephen Daldry has been nothing short of inspiring, and Kate Trefry has written a play that is at turns surprising, scary, and heartfelt."

Excited about the upcoming play, they added, "You will meet endearing new characters, as well as very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that sets the groundwork for the future of Stranger Things. We're dying to tell you more about the story but won't—it’s more fun to discover it for yourself."

Duffer Brothers with the cast of 'Stranger Things'. Credit: Netflix

Broadway and West End theatre producer, Sonia Friedman, added: "The world and mythology of Stranger Things has enabled a rich and fertile  ground for creating an incredible story for the stage. The Duffer Brothers have built a huge global  following for good reason, and a world-class creative team has built on their boundless imagination to  dream up an unbelievably exciting theatrical event for our audiences."

Friedman said that the West End will be "the only place in the world" to perform the play "for now", suggesting that there might be other venues to see the performance in the future.

"I’m thrilled to reunite with my visionary long-term collaborator  Stephen Daldry. Together, with our brilliant Netflix partners, we can’t wait to welcome Stranger Things fans into theatre, and theatregoers into the realm of Stranger Things," Friedman further said.

Ticket information will be available in the coming months. Register here to get priority access.