Exclusive: Georgia-lensed Stranger Things successfully transcends to the performing arts

Georgia Entertainment’s Carol Badaracco Padgett is in London as part of her annual arts pilgrimage, and one highlight was attending Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End.

The show is a theatrical prequel to the Netflix series we all know. It includes series footage filmed in Georgia, out-of-this-world projection mapping, sensational sound and a story that takes us back to Hawkins in the 1950s. It’s been called “breathtaking theatre” by outlets like London Theatreland, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, and with good reason.

The production delivers the same mix of intensity, humor and surprise that made the series iconic, capped with a final-scene glimpse of a young Eleven.

The Phoenix Theatre itself adds to the experience. This intimate, art-house venue feels like a mini Fox Theatre, complete with an ‘80s-themed lounge buzzing before curtain time. For Carol, the performance is part of a broader annual journey that has taken her from the castles of Scotland to the art of Florence and the history of Dublin.

We’re especially inspired by how Stranger Things (whose fifth and final season streams on Netflix in late November and December) continues to evolve across mediums, from filming in Georgia to streaming globally and now into a critically acclaimed stage play.

It’s a perfect example of how today’s stories transcend platforms, weaving film, television, music, theatre and tourism into one connected creative economy.