Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman Productions, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and HAMMER announce their new co-production The Haunting of Hill House Sunday, 28 June 2015 Sonia Friedman Productions is proud to announce the forthcoming production of The Haunting of Hill House at Liverpool Playhouse. The production is a collaboration with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and HAMMER to create the first major UK stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel, which became the legendary horror movie The Haunting in 1963. This stage version is adapted by Anthony Neilson (The Wonderful World of Dissocia, National Theatre Scotland; Realism, Edinburgh International Festival) and will be directed by Olivier and Tony Award nominee Melly Still (Coram Boy, Nation; National Theatre). An alternative theatre experience over the festive period, the 150-year-old Playhouse is the perfect setting for this terrifying psychological thriller. At Liverpool Playhouse from 7 December 2015 to 16 January 2016. Up Up

Back to Productions THE MYSTERY OF CHARLES DICKENS This production began performances on 6th September and closed on 14th October 2000. In a life beset by ecstasy and tragedy, by public acclaim and private despair, a great man is elevated and debased by his wild and restless imagination. As his remarkable life unfurls on stage, prepare to encounter some of Victorian England's most intriguing characters. Fresh from a sell-out national UK Tour, THE MYSTERY OF CHARLES DICKENS transfers to the West End for a strictly limited season at the Comedy Theatre. Simon Callow 's performance has been acclaimed nationwide as tremendous, from his poignant portrayal of the young Dickens to the charismatic snapshots of some of the legendary characters including Mr Micawber, Mrs Gamp, Pickwick, Scrooge, Bill Sykes and Nancy, Vincent Crummles, Mister Jingle, Fagin and Miss Haversham - an astounding tour de force. This extraordinary new play marks the theatrical debut of best-selling novelist and definitive Dickens biographer Peter Ackroyd . He has created a sensational insight into the life and times of Charles Dickens , leading us through his turbulent and fascinating life story. Starring the multi-award-winning Simon Callow and directed by Patrick Garland (Chimes at Midnight - Chichester Festival Theatre, Talking Heads for the BBC), Dickens reunites the creative team behind the critically acclaimed The Importance of Being Oscar. Funny and utterly compelling, THE MYSTERY OF CHARLES DICKENS combines a brilliant performance with outstanding writing, to create an unforgettable theatrical experience. CAST SIMON CALLOW CREATIVES PETER ACKROYD – Playwright PATRICK GARLAND – Director CHRISTOPHER WOODS – Designer NICK RICHINGS – Lighting Designer

Back to Productions ORESTEIA This production began performances on 22nd August and closed on 7th November 2015. The best show of the year The Guardian A huge, moving, bloody saga, the original of all family dramas, Aeschylus ' greatest and final play asks whether justice can ever be done? An exhilarating adaptation Observer Oresteia is brought to you from the Almeida Theatre – a venue renowned for introducing ground-breaking, critically acclaimed transfers to the West End. Following Chimerica , Ghosts , King Charles III and 1984 , Oresteia is their most recent exhilarating theatrical feat. Directed by Robert Icke (Mr. Burns ; 1984 ) and starring Lia Williams (Old Times ; Earthquakes in London ) as Klytemnestra and Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey ) as Electra. A quiet riot of theatricality. Huge themes, ordinary people, great performances, big success. The Times CAST LIA WILLIAMS – Klytemnestra JESSICA BROWN – Electra CREATIVES ROBERT ICKE – Version/Direction HILDEGARD BECHTLER – Designer NATASHA CHIVERS – Lighting Designer TOM GIBBONS – Sound Designer JULIA HORAN CDG – Casting

Back to News & Press The 100 most connected women Sunday, 28 September 2014 Sonia Friedman features on The Telegraphs list of 100 most connected women. At the 2014 Olivier awards her production company won more awards than anyone else including Best New Play and Best New Musical. Read full article here . Up Up

Back to News & Press Ghosts screening - 26 June 2014 - One night only Monday, 23 June 2014 The WEST END THEATRE SERIES is delighted to announce its third title; Richard Eyre’s five-star, multi award-winning revival production of Ibsen’s Ghosts. The Almeida Theatre production will be screened in over 200 cinemas across the UK and Ireland for one night only, Thursday 26 June ‘14 (www.westendtheatreseries.com ) This acclaimed show, starring Lesley Manville, sold out at the Almeida before transferring to the Trafalgar Studios where it played to packed houses, extending its original run due to popular demand. Ghosts is currently nominated for five Olivier Awards; Best Actress, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Lighting Design, Best Director and Best Revival. Reinforcing the calibre of the entire WEST END THEATRE SERIES, previous productions in the series Merrily We Roll Along and Private Lives have both been recognised with a combined eleven Olivier Award nominations. At the 2013 Evening Standard Theatre Awards, Richard Eyre was named Best Director for Ghosts. Lesley Manville won the 2013 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance as Helene Alving. The universally praised cast of Ghosts also includes Adam Kotz, Jack Lowden, Brian McCardie and Charlene McKenna. Lowden and McKenna were recently nominated for the Ian Charleston Award for their performances in Ghosts. The award recognises outstanding performances by actors under 30 in classic roles. Lowden is now also nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The 2014 Olivier Awards will be presented this Sunday (14 April) at the Royal Opera House. The WEST END THEATRE SERIES is captured live in High Definition by Digital Theatre and distributed by CinemaLive. Helene Alving has spent her life suspended in an emotional void after the death of her cruel but outwardly charming husband. She is determined to escape the ghosts of her past by telling her son, Oswald, the truth about his father. But on his return from his life as a painter in France, Oswald reveals how he has already inherited the legacy of his father’s dissolute life. Up Up

Back to News & Press Gala charity performance of Shakespeare in Love will benefit two theatrical charities Wednesday, 11 June 2014 These extraordinary theatre charities will share a gift of at least £35,000 from the performance and, additionally, theatregoers who book tickets for the world premiere production at the Noël Coward Theatre until September 2014 will be invited to donate £2 per ticket to be shared evenly between the charities.The two charities were chosen to reflect both the history of the production and to celebrate a bright theatrical future. The Rose Theatre Trust is a charity set up to protect, investigate and make publically available the site of the Rose Theatre on Bankside. The Rose is the setting for Shakespeare in Love. Built in 1587, this theatre was the first purpose-built playhouse on bank-side to stage a production of any of Shakespeare’s plays. When the Rose was discovered in 1989, The Trust successfully delayed construction and negotiated a re-design of the proposed new building and is now largely devoted to preparing to excavate the complete site and ensure the remains are put on display as a permanent resource for the public. ‘All monies will go to the Rose Theatre Trust to ensure that our ’Rose Revealed’ project can be undertaken on the site. This project will include the excavation of the as yet un-explored eastern third of the playhouse, the installation of a long term conservation regime to protect the fragile remains and a programme of architecture and design which will return the Elizabethan Rose to the public, both as a cultural monument open and explicable to all and as a place of entertainment, thus becoming a vital component of the newly renovated Bankside of the Second Elizabethan Age.’ Harvey Sheldon, Chair, Rose Theatre Trust Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that marks its 40th anniversary in 2014. Its mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change. Primarily based at its purpose-built venue in North London, the company creates theatre for all ages and runs successful outreach projects, education courses and membership programmes throughout the year. "The Gala performance of Shakespeare in Love is an opportunity for us to reflect on and celebrate the achievements of the last 40 years, while marking our significant Birthday in style. The donations from this extraordinary opportunity will be invested carefully and wisely - and for the benefit of those who need Chickenshed most - to help us to continue to provide inclusive opportunities for young people in London, the regions and, increasingly, around the world.” Jo Collins MBE, Co-Founder of Chickenshed Rehearsals are currently underway for the World Premiere stage adaptation of Shakespeare in Love, bringing together one of the largest companies ever assembled for a play in the West End. The 28-strong cast includes a number of young actors and actor-musicians who will be making their professional debuts. The full cast are: Ian Bartholomew (Tilney), Tom Bateman (Will Shakespeare), Tony Bell (Ralph), Lucy Briggs-Owen (Viola De Lesseps), Anna Carteret (Queen Elizabeth), Paul Chahidi (Henslowe), David Ganly (Burbage), Richard Howard (Sir Robert De Lesseps), Harry Jardine (Sam), Abigail McKern (Nurse), David Oakes (Marlowe), Patrick Osborne (Mr Wabash), Alistair Petrie (Wessex), Doug Rao (Ned Alleyn), Ferdy Roberts (Fennyman) and Colin Ryan (John Webster). They are joined by an ensemble including Daisy Boulton, Michael Chadwick, Tom Clegg, Ryan Donaldson, Janet Fullerlove, Amy Marchant, Sandy Murray, Timothy O’Hara, Thomas Padden, Elliott Rennie, Charlie Tighe and Tim Van Eyken who will also be musical director. Gaiety will play Crab the dog, understudied by Barney. Up Up

Back to News & Press Sonia Friedman Productions celebrates with 10 wins at the WhatsOnStage Awards Monday, 20 February 2017 Whatsonstage.com is the UK’s leading theatre news website, and these awards are the only ones nominated and voted for by the theatregoing public. SFP productions won in 10 categories, including Best New Play, congratulations to: Best Actor in a Play – Jamie Parker - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Supporting Actor in a Play – Anthony Boyle - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Supporting Actress in a Play – Noma Dumezweni - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Direction – John Tiffany - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Set Design – Christine Jones - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Lighting Design – Neil Austin - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Video Design – Finn Ross and Ash Woodward - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best New Play - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Best Actress in a Musical - Amber Riley - Dreamgirls Best Musical Revival - Funny Girl Up Up

Back to News & Press Full cast announced for A Christmas Carol Thursday, 15 October 2015 Adeel Akhtar is best known for his work in film and television. He was BAFTA-nominated for his role in Utopia , played hapless Fessal in Chris Morris’ Four Lions and played Maroush in Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator . His work on-stage includes playing Guildenstern in Hamlet at the Young Vic. Amelia Bullmore is known not only for her writing (Di and Viv and Rose ) but also for her many appearances on television, in particular as one of the co-stars of the series Scott and Bailey and playing Kay Hope, Head of Sustainability in hit BBC comedy Twenty Twelve . Her stage credits include The Norman Conquests at the Old Vic, which subsequently transferred to Broadway. Keir Charles ’ recent stage appearances include The White Devil , The Arden of Faversham and The Roaring Girl (all for the RSC). He also appeared in the recent Simon Pegg film Man Up . Double Olivier Award-winning actress Samantha Spiro recently appeared on stage in Di and Viv and Rose at the Vaudeville Theatre, as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and as Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew both at Shakespeare’s Globe. She is known for playing Barbara Windsor in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuel and Dick at the National Theatre and won the Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical for both Merrily We Roll Along at the Donmar Warehouse and Hello! Dolly at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. On television, she has recently appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show and won the Best Female Comedy Breakthrough Artist in the British Comedy Awards for her role in Grandma’s House . Puppeteers Jack Parker and Kim Scopes complete the ensemble. Jack is currently working with Warner Brothers on the new film of The Jungle Book . His previous stage work includes War Horse for the National Theatre and A Dog’s Heart and The Magic Flute both for Complicité. Kim previously worked for Blunderbus Theatre Company, the New Wolsey Theatre, Flabbergast Theatre Company and Twice Shy Theatre. She has also taught puppetry in Peru, performed at Glastonbury festival 2014 and this year puppeteered on two music videos. Academy Award-winning actor Jim Broadbent makes his long-awaited return to the stage to play Scrooge in a new version of A Christmas Carol adapted by Patrick Barlow from Charles Dickens' classic story of greed, grief, ghoulish ghosts and eleventh-hour redemption. From Scrooge and Tiny Tim to Bob Cratchit and Mr. Fezziwig, Patrick Barlow 's imaginative adaptation of A Christmas Carol will bring some of Dickens' most memorable characters to life at the Noël Coward Theatre this winter. Coming together to create this innovative new work are some of our most loved and mischievous maverick theatre-makers. The play is written by the Olivier Award-winning and Tony nominated Patrick Barlow (The 39 Steps ) with whom Jim Broadbent performed for many years in Barlow’s cult comedy troupe The National Theatre of Brent. A Christmas Carol is directed by Olivier award-winning Phelim McDermott , Artistic Director of Improbable, one of Britain’s most inventive theatre companies, who is responsible for the iconic production Shockheaded Peter . McDermott also directed Theatre of Blood at the National Theatre in which Broadbent last appeared on stage. Joining them is the critically-acclaimed designer Tom Pye (The Testament of Mary , The Death of Klinghoffer , The Low Road ) and Toby Sedgwick (War Horse , The 39 Steps ) as Director of Movement, Peter Mumford will design the lighting and Gareth Fry will design sound. Up Up

Back to News & Press Harry Potter and the Cursed Child receives 5 Drama Desk Awards Saturday, 2 June 2018 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child received 5 Drama Desk Awards at the ceremony. Outstanding Director of a Play – John Tiffany Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play – Neil Austin Outstanding Projection Design – Finn Ross & Ash Woodward Outstanding Sound Design for a Play – Gareth Fry Outstanding Music in a Play – Imogen Heap Up Up

Back to News & Press Casting is announced for the transfer of Claire Van Kampen's new play Farinelli and the King Friday, 27 March 2015 Shakespeare's Globe and Sonia Friedman Productions are delighted to announce the West End transfer of Claire van Kampen’s critically-acclaimed new play Farinelli and the King, directed by John Dove, designed by Jonathan Fensom and starring Mark Rylance (Wolf Hall, Jerusalem, Richard III, Twelfth Night), as King Philippe V of Spain. Sam Crane will once again play the acting role of Farinelli, while the singing role will be reprised by opera star, Iestyn Davies and shared with Rupert Enticknap. The rest of the cast will also transfer with Huss Garbiya playing Doctor Jose Cervi, Melody Grove playing Isabella Farnese, Colin Hurley as Metastasio and Edward Peel as De la Cuadra. The Duke of York’s Theatre will be transformed as the magical and intimate atmosphere of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is brought to the West End with onstage seating, candles and live Baroque music played by six onstage musicians, led by Harpsichordist and Musical Director Robert Howarth. Directed by John Dove and designed by Jonathan Fensom, the West End production will open on 14th September 2015 and play for a strictly limited run until December 5th. Opening Night will be on Tuesday 29th September. Set in eighteenth-century Spain, Claire van Kampen's moving and mesmerising new play tells the intriguing true story of Farinelli, once the world’s most famous castrato and one of the greatest celebrities of his time, and his decision to trade fame and fortune in the opera-houses of Europe for a life of servitude at the court of King Philippe V. This enchanting new play explores the dynamics between Farinelli and the royal couple, featuring many of the exquisite arias first sung by Farinelli in the 1730’s. The Duke of York’s Theatre will be transformed for this sumptuous production, lit almost exclusively by the glow of candle-light and with live music played on Baroque instruments. Mark Rylance last appeared in a Globe production in 2012 in Tim Carroll's hugely lauded sell-out productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III, which subsequently enjoyed phenomenally successful West End and Broadway runs, also produced by Sonia Friedman Productions. Mark’s other recent theatre credits include Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron in Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, (Royal Court, West End, Broadway) and this year he also starred as Thomas Cromwell in the BBC2 adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Booker Prize-winning novel Wolf Hall. It has recently been announced that Mark will play the title role in the Steven Spielberg feature film of Dahl’s the BFG. Claire van Kampen, founding Director of Music, Shakespeare’s Globe has created music for over 45 productions there, including The Duchess of Malfi with Gemma Arterton. A theatre specialist on music and text of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, her stage credits also include original scores for Matthew Warchus’ Broadway productions of Boeing-Boeing. La Bete and True West. Claire’s television and film credits include Peter Kosminsky’s Wolf Hall, Roland Emmerich’s Anonymous and Christian Camargo's Days and Nights. John Dove’s previous directorial work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes Dr Scroggy’s War, Blue Stockings, All’s Well That Ends Well, Anne Boleyn, In Extremis, Measure for Measure (LA and New York Tour) and The Winter’s Tale (Tour). He is an Artistic Associate of the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh where he has directed Pressure by David Haig, a co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre, Death of a Salesman, All My Sons, View From the Bridge, The Price and The Man Who Had All the Luck. John was Associate Director at Hampstead Theatre and has also directed at the Royal Court, The Old Vic, The Lyric Hammersmith, the Bush Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford E15. Jonathan Fensom’s previous work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes The Changeling, The Duchess of Malfi, (both at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), The Life and Death of King John, Julius Caesar, Gabriel, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry V, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, King Lear and Love’s Labour’s Lost. Other theatre includes Rain Man, Some Girls, Twelfth Night, Smaller, Journey’s End, What the Butler Saw, East (West End). Jonathan was the Associate Set Designer on Disney’s The Lion King, which premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway and has subsequently opened worldwide. His set design for Journey’s End (West End and Broadway) was nominated for a Tony Award in 2007. The production won the Tony Award for Best Revival. Jonathan won the UK Theatre Award for Best Design in 2013. Praised as 'one of the most glorious countertenor voices in the world today' by the Independent and described as 'superb' by the New York Times, Iestyn Davies’ recent awards include the 2013 Critics’ Circle Award for Exceptional Young Talent and the 2014 Gramophone Recital Award for his recent disc Arise, my muse. A versatile performer equally at home on both the opera and concert stage, Iestyn has sung roles for New York's Metropolitan Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Paris' Opera Comique, English National Opera, Milan's Teatro alla Scala and at the Munich and Vienna Festivals. He has also performed in concert and recital at the Barbican, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms and London's Wigmore Hall. Sam Crane starred as Winston Smith in Headlong’s recent critically-acclaimed production of 1984 when it transferred from the Almeida to the West End. His other stage credits include The Humans (BAM New York), Henry IV Parts One & Two and Othello (Globe Theatre), Some Trace of Her and DNA (National Theatre), Kebab (Royal Court) and Ghosts (Bristol Old Vic). He received the Ian Charleson Award for Othello and Ghosts. His screen credits include Desperate Romantics (series), Call the Midwife and Poirot. Rupert Enticknap is a British countertenor who recently played Nerillus in L’Ormindo at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, a ground-breaking collaboration between Shakespeare’s Globe and The Royal Opera House. His previous performances at the Royal Opera House include the world premiere of Richter's SUM for ROH2 in the Linbury Studio Theatre. Rupert has worked with numerous conductors worldwide including Laurence Cummings, Alan Curtis, Harry Bicket, Rubén Dubrovsky, René Jacobs, Ottavio Dantone, Fabio Biondi, Christophe Rousset and Jean-Christophe Spinosi. His upcoming engagements include Handel’s Agrippina in Iford under Christopher Bucknall and Florian Leopold Gassmann’s L’Opera Seria at Brussel’s La Monnaie with René Jacobs. Huss Garbiya previously performed at Shakespeare’s Globe in The Frontline, Blue Stockings, and Dominic Dromgoole’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream which was later screened in cinemas as part of the 2014 Globe on Screen season, before touring to Asia and Russia. His other stage credits include The Comedy of Errors (Royal Exchange, Manchester) and The Taming of the Shrew (RSC). Melody Grove recently appeared in In Lambeth at Southwark Playhouse. Elsewhere her theatre credits include The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (National Theatre of Scotland), Much Ado About Nothing (Old Vic), The Importance of Being Earnest (Lyric Belfast/ Lyceum Edinburgh) and Of Mice and Men (Lyceum, Edinburgh). Colin Hurley previously performed at Shakespeare’s Globe in Twelfth Night, Richard III, All’s Well That Ends Well, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Macbeth, The Golden Ass, Measure for Measure, The Winter’s Tale, Troilus and Cressida and In Extremis. For the National Theatre his credits include Remember This, Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Mary Stuart, Wild Oats, Richard III and King Lear and for the RSC he has appeared in A Month In The Country, Hamlet and Troilus and Cressida. Edward Peel has performed in numerous productions at Shakespeare’s Globe including ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore, Eternal Love, Blue Stockings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Anne Boleyn, Troilus and Cressida and The Winter’s Tale. His extensive credits elsewhere include Enemies at the Almeida Theatre, The Dragon, Twelfth Night and D.H.Lawrence Trilogy for the Royal Court, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Drum Theatre and An Inspector Calls at the National Theatre. He is perhaps best known for his television roles in Juliet Bravo, Cracker, London’s Burning and Doctor Who. Up Up

Back to News & Press Final six weeks of The Ferryman in the West End after winning three awards at the 2018 Olivier Awards Monday, 9 April 2018 Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions , Neal Street Productions and Royal Court Theatre Productions, The Ferryman will play its final performance at the Gielgud Theatre on 19 May 2018, prior to its Broadway transfer. More than 350,000 people will have seen the production during its year long run of 410 performances, with over 14,000 tickets sold at £12.50 or under. Jez Butterworth ’s The Ferryman was the most recognised play at this year’s Olivier Awards with eight award nominations. It went on to win the award for Best New Play, while Sam Mendes was awarded Best Director and Laura Donnelly received the honour for Best Actress. The Olivier Awards follow successes at The Evening Standard Awards, Critics Circle Awards and What’s On Stage Awards at all of which The Ferryman was given the Best New Play Award. The production won widespread critical acclaim when it opened at the Royal Court and was the fastest selling show in the theatre’s history. This phenomenal success has continued at the Gielgud Theatre where it has been playing to sold-out houses. The current company includes Dean Ashton as Frank Magennis, Declan Conlon as Muldoon, Rosalie Craig in the role of Caitlin Carney, Kevin Creedon as JJ Carney, Charles Dale as Father Horrigan, Sean Delaney as Michael Carney, Justin Edwards as Tom Kettle, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Shena Carney, Terence Keeley as Diarmaid Corcoran, Laurie Kynaston as Oisin Carney, Mark Lambert as Uncle Pat, Catherine McCormack as Mary Carney, Stella McCusker as Aunt Maggie Far Away, Owen McDonnell playing Quinn Carney, Francis Mezza as Shane Corcoran, Glenn Speers as Lawrence Malone and Siân Thomas as Aunt Pat. As previously the full company comprises 37 performers: 17 main adults, 7 covers, 12 children on rota and 1 baby. The Ferryman in the West End is directed by Sam Mendes , designed by Rob Howell , lighting by Peter Mumford , sound and original music by Nick Powell , with the current cast directed by Tim Hoare and casting by Amy Ball CDG . Sonia Friedman Productions and Neal Street Productions will transfer The Ferryman to Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 W 45th St, New York) opening in October 2018. Tickets are onsale through Telecharge.com. Full production schedule, the 30-plus member cast and full creative team for The Ferryman on Broadway will be announced at a later date. Up Up

Back to News & Press First look trailer released for critically acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning smash-hit STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW as the show extends into 2025 due to unprecedented demand Wednesday, 22 May 2024 Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions today release the first look trailer for the critically acclaimed world première production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow . With some of the groundbreaking theatrical special effects teased on film for the first time, the show announces an extension into 2025 at the Phoenix Theatre. CLICK HERE TO VIEW Written by Kate Trefry and with direction by Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin , the production opened to rave reviews at the Phoenix Theatre on 14 December 2023. The show, currently breaking box office records at Phoenix Theatre where it is now booking until 16 February, has recently won several awards including the Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Set Design, the Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Set Design and Most Promising Newcomer, and the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play. The cast is Shane Attwooll (Chief Hopper ), Kemi Awoderu (Sue Anderson ), Chase Brown (Lonnie Byers ), Christopher Buckley (Bob Newby ), Ammar Duffus (Charles Sinclair ), Gilles Geary (Ted Wheeler), Florence Guy (Karen Childress), Max Harwood (Alan Munson), Michael Jibson (Victor Creel ), Oscar Lloyd (James Hopper Jr. ), Louis McCartney (Henry Creel ), Isabella Pappas (Joyce Maldonado ), Matthew Pidgeon (Principal Newby ), Calum Ross (Walter Henderson ), Maisie Norma Seaton (Claudia Yount ), Patrick Vaill (Dr Brenner ), Alex Young (Virginia Creel ), Ella Karuna Williams (Patty Newby ), and Anika Boyle , Lily Crawford , Faith Delaney and Imogen Turner (alternating the role of Alice Creel ); with Tricia Adele-Turner , Lauren Arney , Samuel Baxter , Reya-Nyomi Brown , Patricia Castro , Lydia Fraser , Isaac Gryn , Mark Hammersley , Benjamin Lafayette, Tom Peters , Kingdom Sibanda , Tiana Simone , Danny Sykes and Meesha Turner . ABOUT STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW 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, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, 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 Productions , 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, props supervision by Mary Halliday , dialect by William Conacher , fight direction by Kev McCurdy , casting by Jessica Ronane Casting CDG with additional casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG , and international casting consultancy by Jim Carnahan . Up Up