NEWS: INITIAL CASTING FOR 'BACK TO THE FUTURE' ANNOUNCED

Neill Kovacic-Clarke
1 day ago
5 min read

INITIAL CASTING ANNOUNCED

FOR THE FIRST EVER UK TOUR OF

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL

Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Roger Bart is set to return as Doc Brown, with Australian rising star Axel Duffy as Marty McFly

Lead producer Colin Ingram, together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, are delighted to announce initial casting for the first ever UK tour of the multi award-winning BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL, with Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Roger Bart returning as Doc Brown, having originated the role on stage in the West End, on Broadway and internationally, and Australian rising star Axel Duffy as Marty McFly.

Roger Bart is scheduled to open the tour at the Bristol Hippodrome (8th October – 21st November 2026) as well as playing the Edinburgh Playhouse (2nd December 2026 – 2nd January 2027). Further casting for the role of Doc Brown, and the remaining company, is to be announced.

Producer Colin Ingram said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome back stage and screen star Roger Bart to the Delorean in Bristol and Edinburgh after creating the role of Doc Brown in the West End production and playing it in Sydney and on Broadway where he was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance; 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 groundbreaking 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!”

Roger Bart originated the role of Doc Brown in the Manchester, West End, Broadway and Sydney runs of BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL, gaining a Tony Award nomination for his time on Broadway. His other stage 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, Snoopy in the revival of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, for which he won the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award, originating the title role in the musical of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, Disaster!, The Frogs, Triumph Of Love, King David, and Big River. Roger also created the role of Hades in the NYSF/Public Theater production of Hercules, revisiting the piece that he first brought to life as the singing voice of ‘Young Hercules’ in the animated film's Academy Award-nominated song ‘Go the Distance.’ His extensive television credits include Good Trouble, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Graves, Grace and Frankie, and Episodes. Other popular television appearances include Revenge, Desperate Housewives and 30 Rock. His film credits include The Stepford Wives, Man With The Bag, Ghost Light, Speech & Debate, and Jay Roach's adaptation of Trumbo, as well as Last Vegas, Law Abiding Citizen, Harold & Kumar 2, American Gangster and Office Romance.

Axel Duffy originated the role of Marty McFly in the Australian production of BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL, alongside Roger Bart. His further theatre credits include Will Parker in Oklahoma, for which he won Performing Arts WA Awards for Best Male Performer and Best Newcomer, Karl in the Australian company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Leaf Coneybear in The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Australian National Tour of Grease The Musical, One Day In September, Irene, Neylon and Peele’s The Beep Test and multiple international tours with The Tap Pack.

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL is a global success, with productions currently running in North America, Japan, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Germany, with a French production to follow. The show has been seen by over 5 million people worldwide so far. The critically acclaimed Olivier, WhatsOnStage and Broadway World Award-winning Best New Musical played its final performance in London’s West End on Sunday 12th April 2026 after 5 years at the Adelphi Theatre, where it broke box office records and was seen by over 2.3 million people.

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL has a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL is directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town), alongside the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Chris Bailey (choreography), Chris Fisher (Illusions), Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone (lighting), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow. Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, with dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by David Grindrod CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.

Back to the Future the movie was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown – last year marked the 40^th anniversary of the film’s release. The film grossed $360.6 million (£279 million) at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL is produced by Colin Ingram, Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh Group, Playing Field, CJ ENM, Universal Theatrical Group, Fin C Gray, Augury, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale.

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL UK TOUR – 2026/ 2027 LISTINGS

THURSDAY 8th OCTOBER – SATURDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2026

BRISTOL HIPPODROME

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2026 – SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY 2027

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 12th JANUARY – SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2027

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

ON SALE NOW

Casting for the role of Doc Brown to be announced

TUESDAY 9th – SATURDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2027