Review: Back to the Future: The Musical – Sydney Lyric Opening Night

An iconic movie, turned hit, turned musical. I’ve been following this show for years – from its Broadway buzz to some of the iconic dancers I knew would make their mark in it – and I knew it would be special. But I didn’t anticipate just how special. This show blew me away in every possible way.

The vibes were there from the start: a red carpet lined with theatre fans, a DJ spinning 80s bangers, and the DeLorean parked out front of Sydney Lyric. It felt like the event of

the year. Inside, the buzz was electric – and from the moment the scrim lit up and zoomed us from Sydney to the world, we were transported into a retro-futuristic time machine of pure theatrical magic.

Roger Bart, Tony Award nominee (and winner), absolutely smashed Doc Brown. Quirky, whacky, loveable – he had the audience belly-laughing with every antic. And opposite him, the true star of the night: Axel Duffy. This kid was Marty McFly. His voice? Spot on. His movement? Sharp and bursting with energy. His chemistry with Roger Bart? Goofy, heartfelt, and a joy to watch. Axel impressed the pants off the audience – a total pocket rocket.

Photo credit: Daniel Boud

Ashleigh Rubenach shone as Lorraine, as she always does. This role was made for her – the good girl gone bad, nifty-fifties teen. Her voice soared, her comic timing hit every mark, and she lit up the stage. Ethan Jones gave us the most delightful George McFly – goofy, gangly, and instantly loveable. Even the way he crept across the stage had the audience giggling. His full-bodied comic silhouette was perfection, and we were rooting for him from the very first scene.

And can I just say – the ensemble! Wow. The choreography was sharp, flawless, and dynamic. Crisp double pirouettes, seamless transitions between 80s hip hop, commercial heels, balletic waltzes, and intricate partner work – it was a feast. Huge props to the dance captains – you are running a tight ship.

A special mention goes to Javon King, whose gorgeous voice melted over the audience like honey. Charisma poured out of him in every scene, and we were left wanting more and more. An absolute star.

Now – let’s talk about the set and costumes. Broadway budgets? They were all over this. Everything was slick, seamless, and spectacular. Automatic tracks glided us from school, to diner, to the street, to Doc’s incredible science lab, and of course, the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance. Every transition was pure theatrical smoothness.

And then... the car. The car! Goosebumps. Watching the DeLorean fly through space and time with jaw-dropping AV effects – don’t ask me how, just know it was Broadway- level magic. This is why we go to the theatre – to sit there beaming and squealing with excitement at the impossible made possible.

Photo credit: Daniel Boud

The story remains as engaging as ever – if you don’t know the film, it still sweeps you up and carries you along. If you do, it’s a nostalgic thrill ride. Opening night ended with a unanimous standing ovation, and a deeply special surprise: Bob Gale, the original writer of Back to the Future, took the stage. He spoke about the script being rejected 40 times before it became the beloved film, and again about the long journey to get this musical off the ground. His words about resilience and belief in oneself were etched into the DNA of this show – his life’s work, his passion, his persistence.

This production is a triumph. You must see it – whether you know the movie or not. If you love musicals, you’ll be swept away. If you love Broadway magic, you’ll be dazzled. And if you’re waiting for me to spoil the car – I won’t. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

Bravo to the cast, the creatives, and everyone who brought this masterpiece to Sydney.

5 out of 5 Stars

To get tickets to see Back To The Future click here