'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' has won the coveted Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play Award at last night's Olivier Awards. It also won the award for Best Set Design. This comes off the back of winning 'Best New Play' at the WhatsOnStage Awards earlier this year.
The play, which is based on the hit Netflix series, stars Isabella Pappas as Joyce Maldonado (a role played by Winona Ryder in the TV show). Viewers will be more familiar with her character's married name of Joyce Bowers, however the stage show is set in 1959, 24 years prior to the start of the TV series and sees Joyce desperate to graduate from Hawkins High School and get out of town.
In an interview given before the show opened in December 2023 Isabella revealed "I’ve always been a Stranger Things fan since I was younger. I was the same age as the kids when they started so I got to grow up with them. I never expected that I’d get to play a young Winona Rider when I was younger, it’s amazing."
The show is currently on at the West End's Phoenix Theatre and is directed by Tony, Olivier and Emmy winning director Stephen Daldry. It is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and created by Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers.
Critic reviews have been outstanding for the show which is currently due to run until December 2024. Book tickets.
★★★★★ "The West End event of the Year" The Telegraph
★★★★★ "A mega five star hit" The Sunday Times
★★★★★ "Breathtaking theatre. Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas)...is full of fire" The Guardian
★★★★★ "A new chapter in theatre. It's out of this world...Isabella Pappas isn’t just a dead ringer for Winona Ryder, she also nails Joyce’s mix of bravado and vulnerability" London Theatre
★★★★★ "Spectacular" The Evening Standard
Listen to Isabella talking about the show in this recent cast interview with WhatsOnStage (from 5'23").
Isabella Pappas is available for voiceovers from Anthea Represents. Click her image for her profile page and voiceover showreel.
