Check out the new production photos of Coronation Street star Paddy Bever in Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre. The actor is making his West End debut in the standalone play.
Paddy Bever joined the cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the West End’s Phoenix Theatre on 12 June 2026 and new photos show him in action as Henry Creel. He is best known for playing Max Turner in the ITV soap Coronation Street, a role which won him a “Rising Star” National Television Award in 2022. The stage spin-off of the hit Netflix series is directed by award-winning filmmaker Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot the Musical, The Crown). The play tells a standalone supernatural story, appealing to both devoted fans and those coming to the Stranger Things universe for the very first time.
The West End production opened to rave reviews at the Phoenix Theatre in London and recently celebrated 1,000 performances. The production also won an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Set Design, which has helped secure several extensions over the last three years. It was announced earlier this month that the West End production will take its final bow on 27 December 2026.
View live availability for Stranger Things: The First Shadow here
Paddy Bever stars as Henry Creel in Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Photo: Manuel Harlan
About Stranger Things: The First Shadow
In 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, the Creel family seeks a fresh start, especially their teenage son Henry, who is eager to escape his troubled past. Initially, things go well – he finds friendship and joins the school play. But when a wave of shocking crimes strikes the town, Henry is forced to confront a terrifying truth: is there something inside him that connects him to the horrors unfolding around him? As this thrilling mystery races forward, shadows of the past are unleashed, relationships are tested, and the town of Hawkins faces the ultimate question: can the power of friendship outshine the darkness within?
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is written by Kate Trefry and directed by Stephen Daldry, with co-director Justin Martin.
Paddy Bever stars as Henry Creel in Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Photo: Manuel Harlan
Plan your visit to Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Theatre: Phoenix Theatre, London
Booking dates: Booking until 27 December 2026
Performance schedule: Tuesday to Saturday Evenings, Friday to Sunday matinees
Running time: 3 hours (including interval)
Age range: 12+
Phoenix Theatre, London
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