Back To The Future

Adelphi Theatre

Welcoming Brian Conley as Doc and Maddie Grace Jepson as Lorraine Baines! What a comic and colourful pair to add to the incredible cast. This show is out of this world.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Back To The Future is going on tour in 2026. I was very lucky to go to the gala of the show to welcome the new and exciting cast members! So let's get into the experience of the show.

This show was one of the first few shows I reviewed when I started 'Tab In The City', and I was blown away by the stage magic. It is one of the most magical shows on the West End. My love and appreciation for this show have grown over the last year. It's grown even more after they have introduced Brian Conley as Doc Brown and Maddie Grace Jepson as Lorraine Baines, what a great pair to add to the already fabulous cast. If you haven't seen the classic 'Back To The Future' films, then this show is about Marty McFly, a boy who is friends with the mad scientist Doc Brown. The Doc creates a time machine and things get a bit pear-shaped and McFly goes back in time to save the Doc... but he bumps into his parents as young adults along the way and things get even more complicated. It's a story that will have you laughing, toe tapping and on the edge of your seat. The perfect show for the whole family, I took my fiancé, and his jaw was on the floor!

OK... Let's get into our new and exciting cast members! Maddie Grace Jepson is making her West End debut, and this is a warm welcome from Tab In The City, because this girl is an astounding actress. Maddie's training and personality together make this comic, animated actress, and she is a brilliant casting for this role. She is one of the strongest people that I've seen play this role; her non-verbal acting is just as strong as when she is delivering her lines. It's hard not to watch her whenever she is on the stage, because she is just an interesting actress, and you can't help but laugh at her mannerisms. Brian Conley plays a lovely Doc Brown and brings a different kind of comedy. However, he could lean into Doc's crazy side a little more. His interpretation of Doc and his relationship with Marty is a little more wholesome; the audience sees how he is a pillar in McFly's life. His song 'This one is for the dreamers' is his strongest moment, and he has clearly explored Doc's ambitions and why he does the crazy things that he does. The moment when he is on the clock tower is such a huge moment, and Conley has made his mark on this moment! What a moving section! He also responds to unexpected moments well and makes comedy from them to make the audience enjoy unplanned moments more. There were some great moments that evening.

The production itself hasn't changed, the stage magic is just as incredible, and it does not matter how many times you watch the show, it's still just as brilliant. I would love to go into detail... but I don't want to ruin anything for you. The set is realistic, you truly are transported back in time, and one of the best settings is the dance at the school in Act Two. This is such a playful and enjoyable moment of the show; the majority of the cast is involved, and the sea-themed aesthetic is just beautiful. An added detail is the bubbles that float around the stage. I would love to live this moment hundreds of times. The set is an art piece in itself, and they have brought the best moments of the film to life, but it isn't just a carbon copy of the film. It's a great interpretation, and they have added their own spin on moments.

I could not recommend this show more; it's a must-see on the West End, and you are guaranteed to enjoy a section of this show. It's such great news that the show is going on tour, because it means that it will be accessible to bigger audiences and families can enjoy the magic of the show. The music is playful, catchy and comedic, along with the choreography. I do agree there are a lot of movie musicals, and this is a great example of a very well-done musical adaptation of a classic film. This is one you really need to get your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers and literally everyone together to go and see. You can't miss this!

Just to add, my Fiancé was a huge fan of this show and felt it captured the film very well. He enjoyed the show and was wowed by the stage magic. It is a great show to take your partner along to if they aren't a regular theatre goer. A great date night choice!