This is the rare screen-to-stage transfer that exists because theatre can do what the show cannot: practical illusions, sudden transformations and sound design that pulls a Broadway house inside out. Stephen Daldry directs, and the effects team behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child built the set pieces. If you watched the series and assumed a stage version would be a cash-in, this is the one to be wrong about.
What to expect
A full-length play with the scale of a musical: a small-town 1959 setting that keeps rupturing, a young ensemble playing familiar Hawkins names decades early, and several sustained illusion sequences the production asks audiences not to spoil. Expect loud sound cues, strobe and haze throughout.
Good to know
- The Marquis is inside the Marriott Marquis hotel on Broadway; the theatre lobby is up an escalator from the street.
- Take the N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3 or 7 to Times Square, or the B, D, F or M to 42nd Street.
- The production uses heavy strobe, haze and very loud sound, which is worth knowing if you are sensitive.
- Recommended for ages ten and up; it contains violence and disturbing imagery.
- The company asks audiences to keep the biggest effects secret, so go in without reading spoilers.
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Common questions
Do I need to have watched Stranger Things?
No, it works as a standalone 1959 story, but viewers of the series will recognise the younger versions of Joyce, Hopper, Bob and Henry Creel and will catch far more of the setup.
Is it a musical?
No, it is a play, though it is staged with the scale, sound design and effects budget of a large musical.
Is it suitable for children?
The production recommends ages ten and up. It contains violence, disturbing imagery, strobe lighting and loud sudden noises.
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