Stranger Things: The First Shadow to Close in London and New York

Stranger Things: The First Shadow will end its West End run at the Phoenix Theatre on Dec. 27, 2026, and close on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on Jan. 3, 2027. The play, set mainly in 1959, features younger versions of characters such as Jim Hopper, Joyce Byers (then Maldonado) and Bob Newby, while largely following a young Henry Creel, who becomes Vecna.

It opened on the West End in Dec. 2023 and on Broadway in Apr. 2025, and earned Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play, and Best Sound Design of a Play. Nearly 1.6 million tickets were sold across the West End and Broadway over more than 1,500 performances.

Despite critical recognition and strong ticket sales, the production’s elaborate effects proved costly. The play reportedly cost $1 million to run per week on Broadway, and recent grosses—$859,339 in a week at 74% capacity—suggested the finances were difficult to sustain.

United Kingdom; United States, London; New York

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