Fans of Stranger Things: The First Shadow are in for a treat this Halloween, as the hit West End stage production invites audiences to take part in a special cosplay costume competition at London’s Phoenix Theatre on Thursday 31 October.
To mark Halloween and in anticipation of the fifth and final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, the production will host a cosplay contest during both its matinee and evening performances.
Audience members are encouraged to dress as their favourite Stranger Things characters for a chance to win exclusive prizes.
To enter, attendees simply need to take a photo of their costume at the Phoenix Theatre and tag on instagram @onstage. A winner for “best dressed” will be selected for each performance.
Fans unable to attend in person can still join the fun by posting their own Stranger Things-inspired costume or cosplay online for a chance to win two tickets to the Stranger Things Day celebration at the Phoenix Theatre on 6 November.
Get inspired by the production photos
More about the show
Based on the Netflix series Stranger Things created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things: The First Shadow is written by Kate Trefry (Netflix’s Stranger Things), and has an original story by the Duffer Brothers, award-winning writer Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Motive and the Cue), and Kate Trefry.
The London production scored an Olivier Award win for Best Entertainment at the 2024 Olivier Awards, and fantastic reviews from the London theatre critics, with four and five stars across the board from all the major critics. The show also scored three Tony Awards on Broadway.
The current West End cast features Louis Healy (Emmerdale, The Pact, The Full Monty) as Henry Creel, Callum Maxwell (Peter Pan) as Bob Newby, Miranda Mufema (Romeo & Juliet) as Patty Newby, Luke Mullins (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) as Dr Brenner, Jessica Rhodes (Doubt: A Parable) as Joyce Maldonado, George Smale (AS-NT) as James Hopper Jr and Shane Attwooll (Wonder Woman 1984) as Chief Hopper. A new West End cast will take over the Phoenix Theatre from 12 November 2025.
The London production is directed by Stephen Daldry and co-directed by Justin Martin. The creative team includes 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 is Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates, and casting by Jim Carnahan.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is now playing at the Phoenix Theatre, booking to 5 April 2026.
Book tickets to Stranger Things The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre in London
Phoenix Theatre, London
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