Review by Tim Garratt
Forty years ago, the original Back to the Future film premiered, becoming the highest-grossing motion picture of 1985. The film’s success led to two sequels and eventually inspired a stage adaptation.
Directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando, Back to the Future: The Musical premiered in Manchester in 2020, moved to London’s West End in 2021, and ran on Broadway for 18 months from 2023. A North American tour is currently underway, alongside a Tokyo production. Seen by over three million people worldwide, the show now arrives at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre for its Australian premiere.
Back to the Future: The Musical closely follows the original film’s plot: high school student Marty McFly (Axel Duffy) is thrust into a time-bending adventure, when eccentric scientist ‘Doc’ Brown (Roger Bart) turns a DeLorean into a time machine. An accident involving the vehicle sees Marty involuntarily travel back to 1955, where he encounters his own parents (Ashleigh Rubenach and Ethan Jones) as high school students. This temporal anomaly threatens to erase his existence, forcing Marty to restore the timeline before that can occur.
Several key creatives from the original film franchise helped bring the blockbuster to the stage. Book writer Bob Gale co-created and co-wrote the film trilogy, with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri (the films’ composer) and Glen Ballard. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the show hews so closely to its source material.
Fortunately, like the film, the show is a highly entertaining, nostalgia-packed spectacle for kids of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Chris Bailey’s vibrant choreography vividly conjures the spirit of both the ‘50s and ‘80s. Sixteen new songs were written for the stage (though they may not linger long in memory) but the show also features film classics, including Huey Lewis and the News’ ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Back in time’, along with ‘Johnny B. Goode’ and, gratifyingly, Silvestri’s iconic score.
The key moments are thrilling, thanks to lighting by Hugh Vanstone and Tim Lutkin, video by Finn Ross, special effects by The Twins FX and illusions by Chris Fisher. As expected, the final 20 minutes are the show’s visual high point. Tim Hatley’s set includes a remarkable replica of the DeLorean seen in the films, built at 90% scale.
But the cast is this production’s strongest asset. Their opening night performances were energetic and precise, elevating the material. Bart leads as ‘Doc’ Brown, reprising a role he’s mastered in London and New York. He gives a polished, dynamic performance that anchors this production. Channelling as much Michael J. Fox as he conceivably can, Duffy makes an impressive principal debut as Marty, proving a perfect fit vocally and in character.
Ethan Jones is another standout as George, evoking Crispin Glover in an audience-favourite turn, and Rubenach is pitch-perfect as Lorraine. Thomas McGuane nails dim-witted bully Biff, while Javon King earns one of the night’s loudest ovations for a show-stealing scene as the ambitious Goldie Wilson. Talent shines from every corner of this cast.
The talent also extends to the pit, with nine musicians led by Daniel Griffin performing the score with punch. Meanwhile, Gareth Owen’s sound design strikes the right balance between music and vocals.
If you’re craving a trip back in time, Back to the Future: The Musical delivers an electric ride that captures the original film’s magic and is brought to life by a stellar cast. Pure, unbridled fun.
Tickets for Back to the Future: The Musical are on sale for performances until 25 January 2026 from www.backtothefuturemusical.com.au.
