Lily Allen puts on a united front with husband David Harbour as they party with Hugh Jackman and Meg Bellamy at Stranger Things: The First Shadow press night… amid ‘marital woes’
Lily Allen puffed on a vape as she and husband David Harbour left the press night performance of Stranger Things: The First Shadow in London on Thursday.
The new live production of the hit Netflix series follows existing characters Jim Hopper (played by David), Bob Newby and Henry Creel when they were younger.
The couple, who wed in 2020, were spotted as they strolled along the busy street deep in conversation following the play, with their night out coming in the wake of rumours surrounding the state of the couple’s marriage.
Lily, 38, put on a glamorous display in a plunging black velvet top and matching trousers after taking to the red carpet earlier in the evening.
Also at the party was The Crown’s breakthrough star Meg Bellamy, who plays Kate Middleton in the new series of the show, and superstar Hugh Jackman alongside a slew of other stars at the glitzy night.
Lily Allen, 38, puffed on a vape as she and husband David Harbour, 48, left the press night performance of Stranger Things : The First Shadow in London on Thursday
The couple, who wed in 2020, were spotted as they strolled along the busy street deep in conversation following the play
Meanwhile David, 48, cut a dapper figure in a black suit which he wore with a crisp white shirt and stylish dark shades.
While Lily continues to smoke she gave up drinking in a lifestyle overhaul and celebrated three years of sobriety in October 2022.
Lily has been candid about her addiction struggles, previously revealing the last time she consumed alcohol was July 28 2019.
She has always been open about her drink and drug abuse, particularly when she released her memoir My Thoughts Exactly in 2020.
In 2018, she came under fire for glamourising drug-taking after admitting she snorted a line of ketamine at the Glamour Woman Of The Year Awards in 2008.
Describing what happened, Allen said: ‘Someone gave me a line of what I assumed to be cocaine at the Glamour awards once, but it turned out to be Ketamine. I was thrown out (passed over some railings) of the Glamour awards for being in a k hole.’
She added: ‘Obviously I couldn’t talk, or direct the driver so my assistant instructed the occupant of the car behind to ‘follow that cab’ I believe the occupant was @chattyman I have no idea what happened next.’
Lily and David attended the premiere earlier in the evening alongside Hugh Jackman who looked typically stylish in a grey jacket and a turtle neck top at the star-studded event.
Lily put on a glamorous display in a plunging black velvet top and matching trousers after taking to the red carpet earlier in the evening
Meanwhile David cut a dapper figure in a black suit which he wore with a crisp white shirt and stylish dark shades
While Lily continues to smoke she gave up drinking in a lifestyle overhaul and celebrated three years of sobriety in October 2022 (pictured in 2008)
The first official look at stage production Stranger Things : The First Shadow, along with the first act title: ‘Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere,’ was recently released.
Public previews of the original play based on the hit series kicked off at the Phoenix Theatre in London, giving theatregoers and fans of the series a glimpse into the original prequel story set in the world of 1959 Hawkins, Indiana.
The new live production follows existing characters Jim Hopper, Bob Newby and Henry Creel when they were younger.
The First Shadow is set 20 years before the first series of the Netflix sci-fi phenomenon, with an opening date set for December 14.
The new play is written by series writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry and directed by The Crown ‘s Stephen Daldry with co-director Prima Facie’s Justin Martin.
The couple took to the red carpet earlier in the evening
The new live production of the hit Netflix series follows existing characters Jim Hopper (played by David), Bob Newby and Henry Creel when they were younger
She boosted her height in a pair of heels and swept her auburn locks back into a spikey bun
The couple posed up a storm together for the sea of cameras
Lily looked up lovingly at her husband David
David put on an animated display while chatting on the red carpet
Jennifer Garner was among the stars in attendance on the night
Hugh Jackman looked typically stylish in a grey jacket and a turtle neck top at the star-studded event
The actor posed alongside the producer Sonia Friedman
Dominic West looked dapper in a crisp white shirt and a black blazer
James McAvoy showed his support at the premiere
Meg Bellamy looked typically chic in a black leather trench coat and a matching mini skirt
In March, producers said the play would open in 1959 in Hawkins as a young Hopper’s car fails to start, Newby’s sister does not take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado tries to graduate and leave.
The London stage production announced its cast and preview dates, as well as its formal opening, in September.
Teasing the new play, the producers revealed that a new student, Creel arrives, and his family find ‘a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach’.
They teased that the beginning of Stranger Things ‘may hold the key to the end.’
Matt and Ross Duffer, who are the creators of the Netflix series, said: ‘The cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow is nothing short of phenomenal.
These actors brilliantly explore the early days of many fan favourites – including Hopper, Joyce, Bob, Henry and Dr. Brenner – while also bringing new characters to vivid life.
‘We couldn’t be more thrilled and can’t wait for you to meet them all live on stage. See you in London, nerds!’
Arlene Phillips stood out in a leopard print maxi skirt, teamed with a black faux fur coat
Jennifer kept her look simple but chic in a polo neck and trousers
James McAvoy and Lisa Liberati looked cosy on the red carpet
Matthew Modine, who plays Dr Martin Brenner in Stranger Things, was in attendance
Ed Mcvey looked typically stylish in a green pinstriped jacket, teamed with cream wide leg trousers
Daniel Dae Kim was also in attendance
Stage designer Miriam Buether posed on the red carpet
Snapshot: The first official look at stage production Stranger Things : The First Shadow, along with the first act title: ‘Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere,’ has been released
Born to perform: Public previews of the original play based on the hit series kicked off at the Phoenix Theatre in London on Friday evening (pictured L to R: Oscar Lloyd, Isabella Pappas and Christopher Buckley from the play)
The First Shadow stars include Shane Attwooll, Christopher Buckley, Michael Jibson, Oscar Lloyd, Louis McCartney, Isabella Pappas, Patrick Vaill, Lauren Ward and Ella Karuna Williams.
The ensemble includes Kemi Awoderu, Chase Brown, Ammar Duffus, Gilles Geary, Florence Guy, Max Harwood, Matthew Pidgeon, Calum Ross, Maisie Norma Seaton, Tricia Adele-Turner, Lauren Arney, Reya-Nyomi Brown, Patricia Castro, Lydia Fraser, Isaac Gryn, Mark Hammersley, Tom Peters, Kingdom Sibanda, Tiana Simone, Danny Sykes and Meesha Turner.
The show will be produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions whilst the Duffer Brothers act as creative producers.
Sonia Friedman, whose company produced the hit play Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, said London will host the ‘incredible story’ for now and that a ‘world class creative team’ has built on the Duffer Brothers’ ‘boundless imagination to dream up an unbelievably exciting theatrical event for audiences’.
Stranger Things premiered in July 2016 and swiftly became one of Netflix’s most popular TV series ever and its fourth season alone garnered over 140.7 million global views.
(L to R) Cast members Shane Attwooll, Faith Delaney, Christopher Buckley, Ella Karuna Williams, Louis McCartney, Isabella Pappas, Oscar Lloyd and Michael Jibson bow at the curtain call during the press night performance
Lauren Arney, Benjamin Lafayette, Chase Brown, Max Harwood, Gilles Geary, Ammar Duffus, Kemi Awoderu, Calum Ross and Tiana Simone bow at the curtain call during the press night performance
Isabella Pappas oozed Gothic glamour in a black lace semi-sheer dress
L to R) Patrick Vaill, Gilles Geary, Michael Jibson, Shane Attwooll, Samuel Baxter, Lauren Ward, Danny Sykes, Kemi Awoderu, Ammar Duffus, Max Harwood, Justin Martin, Louis McCartney, Oscar Lloyd, Kate Trefry, Kingdom Sibanda, Ella Karuna Williams, Christopher Buckley, Isabella Pappas, Stephen Daldry, Ross Duffer, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Matt Duffer and Producer Sonia Friedman
Florence Guy and Cara Buono posed for snaps together
Lauren Ward looked elegant in a black jumpsuit and cape-style jacket
Max posed in a green suit before taking to the stage in the production
Gilles Geary and Louis McCartney looked stylish together at the event
Iconic: Stranger Things premiered in July 2016 and swiftly became one of Netflix’s most popular TV series ever (L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, and Eduardo Franco as Argyle
Grounded in 80s nostalgia, the show has rekindled interest in pop culture artefacts from that era with each new season, such as Eggo waffles and New Coke.
In June 2022, the series revitalised Kate Bush’s song Running Up That Hill, when it was featured as an emotional cornerstone in Max’s character journey (played by Sadie Sink) causing a surge in Spotify streams.
The series has also amassed more than 70 awards globally, including Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, and received nominations for over 230 awards.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow opens at the Phoenix Theatre on December 14.