Back To The Future The Musical debuts at the Opera House

Time-travellers Marty McFly and Dr Emmett Brown return in a stage version of the blockbuster Eighties film

Great Scott! It’s time to get back in the DeLorean, push the pedal to the floor, and hit 88mph for a trip to 1.21 gigawatts of fun…

Yes, Back To The Future is back.

Some 35 years since the time-travelling caper starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd hit the big screen, the team behind the mega-franchise has reunited to turn the whole thing into a stage musical.

And it has its world premiere at the Opera House in Manchester next week.

Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, who co-wrote the original trilogy with Zemeckis directing and Gale co-producing, are back as co-producers this time around - and so far Gale likes what he sees: “The show has exceeded my wildest expectations and I couldn’t think of a better way to be celebrating the 35th anniversary of the movie.

“I’m thrilled that Back to the Future – the musical is enjoying its world premiere in Manchester and giving this great city the ‘first look’ at our show!”

Taking the iconic role of Marty McFly will be Olly Dobson, previously seen in the West End in shows like Matilda and Bat Out Of Hell.

Tackling the role of Dr Emmett Brown will be Tony-award winner Roger Bart, whose list of past credits is way too long to feature in full here…

He’s had a prolific stage and screen career in the States - his most notable TV and film credits include The Stepford Wives, The Producers, Desperate Housewives, A Series of Unfortunate Events and he is currently Judge Curtis Wilson in Good Trouble.

His Broadway credits include Carmen Ghia (Tony nomination) and ten Leo Bloom in The Producers.

Bart said:, "I am thrilled to be here in the great city of Manchester to introduce to the world this extraordinary incarnation of this hilarious and heart-warming story.

“Playing the role of Doc Brown, made iconic on film by the brilliant Christopher Lloyd, is going to be the adventure of a lifetime.

“After all, at this stage of my life, who doesn’t want to go back in time?"

Rounding out the cast will be Hugh Coles as George McFly, Rosanna Hyland as Lorraine Baines and Cedric Neal as Goldie.

The new music and lyrics for the show comes from Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including, of course, The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode.

For those who’ve been in hiding since 1985, Back to the Future the movie grossed £279 million at the box office worldwide.

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

You can expect more of that next week as Manchester gets the first glimpse of this extraordinary show before it transfers to the West End.

Back To The Future The Musical runs at the Opera House Manchester from Thursday to Sunday, May 17.