Back to the Future musical to run in Manchester ahead of West End transfer

A Back to the Future musical will arrive in Manchester in February 2020 ahead of a planned West End transfer, it has been announced.

The musical version of the iconic film will open at Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 for a limited 12-week season, finishing on 17 May. Plans for the West End run are to be revealed.

Directed by John Rando (Urinetown), the show is based on the 1985 film of the same name, about the teenager Marty McFly who is accidentally sent back in time and has to make sure his parents fall in love.

The new musical will have a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, with the show also featuring numbers like "The Power of Love" and "Johnny B Goode", which both feature in the original film.

The role of Marty will be played by Olly Dobson (Bat Out of Hell), with further cast to be announced.

The design team is composed of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Hugh Vanstone (lighting), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, illusions by Paul Kieve and musical supervision and vocal arrangements by Nick Finlow. Orchestrations will be by Ethan Popp, with dance arrangements by David Chase.

The show comes from the creators of the film Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale alongside producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical). Ingram said: "This show has been six years in the making and we are delighted to be showing it to the people of Manchester first before the rest of the world gets to see it. As I did with Ghost, Manchester gets it first."

Christopher Lloyd, who played Doc Brown in the original film said: "I'm really looking forward to attending the opening in Manchester to experience our wonderful movie as a musical. I'm only sorry I don't have a real time machine so that I could see it tomorrow!"

Tickets for the Manchester run go on sale on 24 May.