It’s time: Back to the Future The Musical set for debut tour

The multi-award winning production of Back to the Future The Musical, based on the beloved film trilogy by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, is set to embark on its first UK tour in the autumn, heading to venues including Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Cardiff. 

American stage and screen actor Roger Bart will be returning as Doc Brown, a role he originated on stage in the West End, internationally and on Broadway for which he received a Tony Award nomination. Bart will join the production for the first legs of the tour in Bristol and Edinburgh.

Joining Bart on stage will be Australian rising star Axel Duffy, who will play Marty McFly for the duration of the tour. Duffy and Bart have already performed together in the Sydney run of the production to much acclaim.

Further casting for Doc Brown, the remaining company and additional tour venues will be announced at a later date. 

Tour dates

On the two stars, Producer Colin Ingram said: “Roger has a gift of musical comedy acting that is up there with Nathan Lane and Martin Short. At the same time, we can’t wait to introduce Axel Duffy who wowed audiences playing Marty McFly in Sydney.

“Back to the Future is one of the most technically ambitious productions to ever tour the UK and Ireland, combining ground-breaking stagecraft, spectacular effects and beloved storytelling on a scale rarely seen on the road. Finding performers who can not only meet those demands but also capture the spirit of these legendary characters is essential – the audiences are in for something special!”

About Roger Bart

As well as bringing Doc Brown to the stage, Roger Bart’s theatre credits include originating the role of Carmen Ghia in Mel Brooks’ Broadway musical The Producers, for which he received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations and recreated the role in the film adaptation of the musical, as well as Snoopy in the revival of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, for which he won the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award. 

Groups may also recognise him from his film and TV appearances in The Stepford Wives, Good Trouble, Grace and Frankie, and Desperate Housewives. He also provided the singing voice for young Hercules in Disney’s classic animated feature film. 

A hit on stage and screen

Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the first Back to the Future movie, released in 1985 and starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. The total box office takings for all three films in the franchise reached $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money) and still remains a hugely popular film series.

Since premiering at Manchester Opera House in February 2020, Back to the Future The Musical has been seen by more than five million people worldwide. It is currently running productions in North America, Japan, Germany and on Royal Caribbean Cruises, with a French production to follow. 

The production won Best New Musical at the Olivier, WhatsOnStage and Broadway World Awards, and finished a five-year run at London’s Adelphi Theatre earlier this year. 

Groups can book tickets now for all announced tour dates.