“Back to the Future: The Musical is a spandex-slicked ride of retro fun and futuristic flair. It’s a celebration of underdogs, second chances, and sci-fi optimism.”
Fiona Hallenan-Barker
4.5 Stars
Venue : Lyric Theatre
Sydney
Dates : until January 2026
Tap shoes meet time travel and spandex collides with science fiction in this high-voltage stage adaptation of the beloved 80s classic. Back to the Future: The Musical is a joyous tribute to the original film, reimagined with nostalgia and theatrical flair.
The production plays with meta-theatre, poking fun at its source material’s outdated ideas. Songs are both funny and pointed. Chorus sometimes appear out of nowhere, contributing little to the plot but keeping energy levels and audience engagement high. A hilariously awkward tap-dancing interlude feels both ridiculous and charming.
Axel Duffy channels Michael J. Fox’s iconic Marty McFly with uncanny vocal accuracy and natural charisma, adding a fresh spark to the time-travelling teen hero. Roger Bart brings a playful ease to Doc Brown, striking the perfect balance between brilliance and madcap chaos. Ashleigh Rubenach and Ethan Jones, as Lorraine and George McFly, nearly steal the show with performances full of heart, sharp comic timing, and unexpected emotional depth, gliding through the stickier “eeww” moments with a straight bat. Javon King is an absolute standout as Goldie Wilson lighting up the stage with powerhouse vocals and dynamic presence while bringing awareness to the injustices of racial segregation in this predominantly white American narrative.
Thomas McGuane plays blonde haired bully Bif with the kind of over-the-top brashness, embodying the archetype of unchecked entitlement and intimidation we have come to expect from yellow haired figures of power. Emma Feliciano and Anton Berezin are dynamic in their cameo lead roles and the ensemble chorus is polished and full of vitality. The ensemble bring vibrant energy and tight choreography to the stage, especially in the large group numbers that radiate ‘80s charm and theatrical flamboyance.
Yes, the DeLorean is the real star, and the audience quite literally cheers it on throughout the show. But the production succeeds in more ways than spectacle. While it doesn’t fully unpack the racial or gender politics of its two time periods, it does gesture toward them with some self-awareness. In Doc Brown’s workshop, portraits of historical scientists like Einstein and Edison hang faithfully, as in the film. But in 2025, this display could use updating. Including influential women such as Émilie du Châtelet, Lise Meitner, or Mileva Marić would give a nod to the future the show champions: one of equity and recognition.
Still, the show does make an effort to evolve its narrative. We travel from a world ruled by yellow-haired bullies and creative suppression to one that, with a bit of tinkering, changes to embrace self-belief.
Back to the Future: The Musical is a spandex-slicked ride of retro fun and futuristic flair. It’s a celebration of underdogs, second chances, and sci-fi optimism. And does the DeLorean take off? Well you’ll just have to grab your leg warmers, pop on your shell suits, and prepare to hit 88mph to find out.
Fiona Hallenan-Barker, Theatre Now
