In Hawkins, Indiana, a surprise visit from Vecna is a waking nightmare, but on the Great White Way, it’s a delightful dream come true.
Stranger Things star Jamie Campbell Bower just surprised audiences in New York with an appearance in the Dec. 19 performance of the Tony Award–winning Broadway play Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Campbell Bower took the stage during the show’s final scene to reprise the role of Henry Creel, the first child taken by Dr. Brenner who eventually becomes Stranger Things’s chief villain, Vecna. “I’m honored to have been asked to do it,” Campbell Bower tells Tudum. “I’ve been so fortunate to see First Shadow twice, both in London and when it opened here. It’s both a very bizarre and also beautiful experience to see it, so to wrap up my journey with Stranger Things by doing this, it’s really cool.”
Following the performance, Campbell Bower joined the cast, including his Tony Award–nominated Henry Creel stage counterpart Louis McCartney, at the stage door to greet fans. “I love Louis. I remember seeing that first preview in London and just being so blown away by what he was doing. And I love Henry, so to see someone like Louis who has also taken great care of this character feels so lovely,” says Campbell Bower. “He’s definitely taken certain things that I did with Henry and brought them into his portrayal and also created something that is uniquely his own, which is beautiful.”
Stranger Things: The First Shadow first opened on London’s West End in 2023, and officially began its Broadway run at the Marquis Theatre on April 22, 2025. In June, the Broadway show won four Tony Awards, including Best Scenic Design of a Play (Miriam Buether and 59), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jon Clark), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Paul Arditti). Following the premiere of Stranger Things 5, ticket sales for both the Broadway and West End productions have reached the highest levels since their initial launches, with guests booking tickets for dates into 2026.
Set in 1959, Stranger Things: The First Shadow tells Vecna’s origin story and features younger versions of some of the series’ fan-favorite characters, like Joyce Byers (Alison Jaye), Jim Hopper (Burke Swanson), and Bob Newby (Patrick Scott McDermott). Based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Kate Trefry, and rooted in the mythology and world of Netflix’s global phenomenon, the play was written by Kate Trefry, directed by Stephen Daldry, and co-directed by Justin Martin. Ahead of his cameo in Stranger Things: The First Shadow’s closing scene, Campbell Bower told Tudum he planned to bring his past experience playing Henry into the performance. “The end of the play is the sort of lead into Season 4, and I remember exactly how it felt and exactly who that person is.”
If you missed Campbell Bower’s unexpected Broadway turn, you’ll soon be able to see him in a different kind of theater-going experience. Join fans across the US and Canada to watch and celebrate The Finale episode of Stranger Things in movie theaters across the country on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Visit www.st5finale.com for the full list of theater locations and for information on how to RSVP.
Vol. 2 of Stranger Things arrives with three new episodes on Christmas Day, followed by The Finale on New Year’s Eve. Find out when they premiere in your part of the world here.
But before you unwrap those remaining episodes, revisit Seasons 1–4 of Stranger Things and take our superfan quiz. And keep checking Tudum for more Stranger Things updates.
