The Standard launches new video series taking viewers behind the scenes of West End shows

The Standard has launched a new video series, taking viewers behind the curtain of the best West End shows.

Kicking off the series is a glimpse behind the scenes of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the theatrical prequel to the cult TV show (written by Kate Trefry), now being performed at the Phoenix Theatre.

The episode airs on Wednesday, April 9.

The Standard’s new series will feature Louis Healey, who plays the lead role of Henry Creel (Manuel Harlan)

The Netflix series Stranger Things, which premiered on Netflix in 2016, tells the story of the kidnapping of a young boy in 1983, leading locals to uncover secret experiments taking place in their hometown (a fictional place called Hawkins.) The theatrical production takes viewers back in time to 1959, unraveling Hawkins’ shadowy history.

Jack Thorne (Adolescence, His Dark Materials) wrote the original story with The Duffer Brothers (who are also the creative producers). Stephen Daldry is the director.

The Standard’s new series will feature Louis Healy, who plays the lead role of Henry Creel in Stranger Things: The First Shadow and has performed in TV productions including Emmerdale and The Pact.

“It's really great because it brings people that might not be able to go to the theater to a place where they can not just see a show but go behind the scenes,” said Rhanie Al-Alas, video producer of The Standard’s new video series.

Viewers can expect up-close details of the production, including props, costumes, dressing rooms and more. “It’s not often that you get to see all the effort that goes into making a show tick,” she said.

“I'm excited for people to see the actors behind their character, because a lot of time people think of the person and the performance as one thing. To see the difference between them and their character is just really fun and interesting.”

Next up, The Standard is taking viewers behind the scenes of Clueless the Musical at the Trafalgar Theatre with Emma Flynn (who plays lead role Cher and has also performed in Little Shop of Horrors and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.)

Next up, The Standard is taking viewers behind the scenes of Clueless the Musical at the Trafalgar Theatre (Pamela Raith Photography)

Clueless the Musical was directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and written Amy Heckerling, who wrote and directed the original 90s chick-flick.

After that, The Standard will take viewers behind the scenes of the magical world of My Neighbour Totoro, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. The production, based on Hayao Miyazaki's 1988 Studio Ghibli film, has been adapted by Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer) and directed by Phelim McDermott.