Netflix has announced an official documentary titled Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow, premiering exclusively on Netflix on April 15, 2025.
This documentary offers an electrifying look backstage during the making of the critically acclaimed, award-winning West End play in the lead-up to its world premiere at London’s Phoenix Theatre in December 2023. This announcement comes ahead of the Broadway production of the Olivier Award-winning, “mega five-star hit” (Sunday Times) beginning public performances tonight at The Marquis Theater.
Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow provides special behind-the-scenes access, following the cast and crew as they race against time to prepare the ambitious, boundary-pushing stage show for its West End debut amid mounting fan and critic anticipation. Directed by Jon Halperin and produced by Angus Wall, Kent Kubena, and Terry Leonard, with Matt Bell as executive producer, this documentary promises to be a thrilling insight into the world of theatre.
The West End production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set in Hawkins, 1959, a regular town with regular worries. 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. Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, 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.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is written by Kate Trefry, directed by Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin, set design by Miriam Buether, costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Paul Arditti, original music composition, orchestration, arrangements and supervision by D.J. Walde, illusions design & visual effects by Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher, video design & visual effects by 59, choreography by Coral Messam, movement direction by Lynne Page, wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates, technical director Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates, props supervision by Mary Halliday, dialect by William Conacher, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG and international casting consultancy by Jim Carnahan.
