Sydney’s Lyric Theatre was electric on opening night last Thursday as “Back to the Future: The Musical” made its Australian debut. The audience buzzed with anticipation as the beloved ’80s film found new life in the high-energy musical adaptation.
Set in 1985, the story follows Marty McFly, played by newcomer Axel Duffy, and his eccentric scientist friend Dr Emmett Brown, played by Tony Award-winning Roger Bart, reprising his West End and Broadway role. McFly is accidentally sent back 30 years to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean, where he encounters his parents as teenagers, and must make sure they fall in love or he’ll cease to exist, while finding a way back to the future.
The Australian premiere marks the production’s third location after the West End and Broadway. “Back to the Future: The Musical” will soon also open in Japan and Germany, as well as aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas cruise ship.
Those who love the film will appreciate the stage production’s faithful recreation of its iconic moments — thanks to the efforts of the production team including co-creator Bob Gale, global producer Colin Ingram and Tony Award-winning director John Rando, all of whom worked on the West End and Broadway productions, as well as Australian producer John Frost. Meanwhile, newcomers are sure to be carried along by the story’s irresistible energy and adventure.
The show wastes no time establishing itself. McFly and Doc are brought vividly to life by Duffy and Bart, with their chemistry providing both comedic punch and emotional grounding. Duffy’s rendition of the character originally brought to life by Michael J. Fox was near perfect, while Bart was clearly comfortable bringing the charming and bizarre Doc, played by Christopher Lloyd in the film, to the stage. As Marty’s parents, Ethan Jones and Ashleigh Rubenach perfectly embodied George McFly and Lorraine Baines’ quirks.
The stage production features clever updates including voice activation for the DeLorean and Doc’s peril, which now hinges on the risk of radiation poisoning, rather than the film’s Libyan terrorists. Similarly, fans will notice the iconic skateboard chase scene has been replaced with a schoolyard showdown, where McFly and antagonist Biff Tannen, played by Thomas McGuane, tangle in a surprisingly epic brawl. It’s a cheeky change that lands quite beautifully.
Visually, it’s quite a marvel. The set design, projections, use of screens and lights and pulley system make the impossible (like a DeLorean flying through the space-time continuum) feel effortless, particularly in the climactic ending. Musically, it strikes a fine balance between original compositions by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and the classic hits that have become synonymous with the film, like “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Stand out songs include Doc’s “21st Century” and “For the Dreamers.”
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Opening night wasn’t without its minor technical hiccups, but these fleeting issues barely registered against the production’s overall spectacle. If anything, they were a reminder that this is live theatre, and the human element adds charm to an otherwise meticulous performance.
“Back to the Future: The Musical” is running in Sydney until January 2026. Ticket information can be found here.