BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL AUSTRALIA

Directed by John Rando Reviewd by Jason King⁣ Seen on 12/10/25

Great Scott! After six months of anticipation, I finally strapped myself in for Back to the Future: The Musical at Sydney Lyric last Sunday, with Granny Lynda as my co-pilot. The verdict? We adored every electrifying minute.⁣

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This Olivier Award-winning sensation takes everything you love about the iconic film and blasts it onto the stage at 88mph. From the very first note, it’s pure nostalgia turbo-charged with Broadway polish. And the effects? Let’s just say when the DeLorean actually takes flight, jaws collectively hit the floor. I haven’t seen stage magic like this since Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. And Doc Brown climbing the tower will have everyone in stitches.⁣

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Roger Bart is spellbinding as Doc Brown. He doesn’t just play him, he is him, with wild-eyed genius, madcap humour, and an extra dimension that delves deeper into Doc’s psyche. His musical numbers, complete with dancers only he seems to see, are equal parts hilarious and brilliant.⁣

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While Axel Duffy usually leads as Marty McFly, fate gifted us with Will Forgrave’s debut. And what a debut it was. He embodied Michael J. Fox’s swagger, innocence, and charm, with a performance so fresh and full of charisma it felt like the role was written for him. (And yes, he looked dangerously good in those purple Calvin Klein’s hehe)⁣

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Ashleigh Rubenach shines as Lorraine Baines, equal parts glamorous and hilariously inappropriate in her pursuit of her future son. Thomas McGuane brings a perfectly ridiculous Biff to life, wig and all, and Anton Berezin is so convincing as Strickland you’d swear he’d time-travelled straight from the original film.⁣

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But two performances nearly stole the flux capacitor: Ethan Jones as George McFly and Javon King as Goldie Wilson/Marvin Berry. Ethan captures Crispin Glover’s every tic and tone with uncanny precision; he’s uncanny and award-worthy. Javon, meanwhile, possesses a voice so rich and soulful it deserves its own record deal. His scenes radiate pure joy.⁣

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Yes, there was a brief technical glitch that stalled the show for ten minutes. Did it matter? Not one bit. This production is a triumph: funny, heartfelt, and jaw-droppingly spectacular.⁣

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If you’re a fan of the film, musical theatre, or simply want to be dazzled, Back to the Future: The Musical is unmissable. It’s a five-star ride back to Hill Valley you’ll never forget.⁣

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