Great Scott! For our first Exclusive Feature of 2025, Back To The Future: The Musical cast joins ReVamp to talk about their experience on this exciting new production, marking their West End Debut and achieving this pivotal moment, the creative process behind their characters, their love for the Original Trilogy, their favourite score/track of this production, and many more significant insights.

Read our exclusive interviews with Vasco Emauz (Marty McFly), C.J. Borger (Goldie Wilson), and Orlando Gibbs (George McFly) as they sit down with us to discuss all things BACK TO THE FUTURE. 

Hi there everyone! Thank you for joining us on ReVamp! We're so excited to talk to you about this amazing new production. How are you all doing? 

Vasco: I'm doing well, thank you!

Orlando: I’m well! 

C.J: Good. Thanks to all at ReVamp for organising this shoot and also the interview! Always good to see artists support other artists!

Let's delve into your experience with the exciting new production of 'Back To The Future: The Musical". First of all, huge congratulations to each of you on your impeccable involvement!

Kindly walk me through your overall audition process and your experience meeting your fellow cast members and the wonderful crew affiliated with this production for the first time? 

O: I didn’t in the slightest expect to get to this stage, and was surprised that each stage of the audition process was successful. I enjoyed each round enormously, and thought “Well, if nothing else, I’ve had a great time”. The material is such fun to perform so that made the auditions, and eventual rehearsals, a real treat. 

I was apprehensive about meeting everyone because this is my first big musical. This apprehension was misplaced. Everyone has been delightful and I am lucky to have met them.

C.J: So, I am an American from NY, I moved here in January and began audition season. Ironically I saw the show in January, text my agent after and said, ‘I would love to do something like this’ – he messaged back and said, ‘well, crazy thing is, your audition is in two weeks!’ My audition process was 5 rounds which included a movement call, and a vocal call! I knew from the first time in the room that this show was something so special.

V: My audition process began in late April, when I was asked to submit a self-tape for Marty. I then did two more in-person auditions and found out I booked it! Meeting the cast and crew for the first was intimidating but they were so kind and welcoming, and now I have truly grown to love this company!

Do you remember your first impressions of your characters when you were initially offered the script? Did those impressions last throughout these shows or did you come out of the production with an altered perception of them? 

C.J: I still remember being so moved with Goldie Wilson, being from a predominantly Caucasian area in Long island! I connected with the character rising above what others said he couldn't do! However, with any job as time has gone on I've realized just how much of the light that Goldie Wilson is! A very misinterpreted fact is Goldie is actually the first person that Marty/George hear about what it means to push on and putting your mind to it!

V: Well, to be quite honest, I had already seen the show and the movie, so I kind of had a sense of who Marty was prior to reading the script. After having some time with the script, I feel like I knew who he was to me more, but even so, it all evolved and morphed throughout rehearsals and post-opening. Safe to say, my Marty from July is not the one you would see today.

O: I remember thinking that George offered a wonderful (and comic) opportunity for the character to change over the course of the story. This has remained vitally important. What I had not fully appreciated is his good-heartedness and how there is a strength to him that he does not know how to express.

I mean Back To The Future is such a surreal hit across the globe but there are still many people who haven't been introduced to this masterpiece yet so I'm very curious to know if you all were fans of this successful franchise prior to joining the musical or did you get introduced to this fascinating world at a later stage in your life? 

O: I never saw the film as a child but was introduced to it later in life. I wish I had seen it as a child because I think it skillfully offers as much to adults as it does to children in the way Pixar or the Simpsons strike that balance.

V: My dad was a huge fan of the franchise. When I was little he showed me the films, and the imagery of the DeLorean fire tracks have been etched in my mind ever since. It’s an absolute masterpiece of a trilogy, in my humble opinion.

C.J: Yes, I grew up with the franchise. In fact the movie happens to be one of father’s favourite movies so he was more than happy when I told him! Actually, I'd say all my friends were excited because of how iconic and what a cult classic the film is!

Did you all take any inspiration from your on-screen predecessors from the movies in terms of portraying your character or was your research based solely on the source material provided to you? 

C.J: I took a little bit of inspiration from the film, however one special thing about Goldie is that they really encourage each actor playing the role to make Goldie their own. So, I based mine on black icons from the era of both 50s and 80s.

O: Crispin Glover lights the way vocally and physically, but I have been encouraged to bring as much of myself to George as possible. Cards on the table, there’s a lot of George in me anyway (lanky, clumsy, overthinking), so the physicality doesn’t need to be overegged.

V: I definitely have tried to honour Michael J Fox’s iconic performance as Marty in my performance. I’ve tried to interpret some of his physicality, mannerisms and iconic vocal quality into what I do, while also bringing  my own perspective and interpretation of the character into the mix.

How can we mention a musical and not talk about the music itself? This production showcases an outstanding score created by the sensational composers Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard.

What has been the most memorable score/track off this production that stands out personally for each of you and you consider your favourite? 

V: Personally my favourite track is definitely "Put Your Mind to It", it is so incredibly fun to sing and perform, and it’s such a heartwarming moment of love between George and Marty. It’s also insanely catchy!

C.J: I mean, I may be biased, but I would like to think that both the most iconic song / my favourite is "Gotta Start Somewhere". It's both relatable and inspiring and invites audiences to engage in the idea that all you can do is put one foot in front of the other and try to be better than the day before!

O: I love Doc’s first song “It Works” and Goldie Wilson’s song “Gotta Start Somewhere”. They’re both so high energy and great introductions to those characters.

Kindly walk me through the creative process for your roles. Did you have any specific acting ritual that you loved immersing yourself into in order to get into the mindset of your characters? 

O: I find it useful to imagine what else they’ve done that day and perhaps write a journal entry up to the point the scene starts. Of course the audience never see that but it’s helpful to think about preceding circumstances.

V: I don't really have too many fun acting rituals apart from research and getting to know the character and then playing around with it and experimenting. But I did create an 80's Rock playlist to listen to and get pumped pre-show Marty style.

C.J: Yes, I would say that my rituals include checking in with each person on the stage during warmup - it allows me to fully step into the feeling of being mayor and "a man for the people" – and also Billie Bowman (who plays Clocktower Woman) comes into room at the 5-minute call and we get all our sillies out.

How distinct do you think this production and your portrayal is from what the fans witnessed in the original trilogy? 

V: I think the production follows the original movie quite faithfully with only a few small changes and obviously musical numbers. I think my portrayal now pays homage to the OG while still being uniquely mine.

C.J: I believe that my performance is an extension of the portrayal in the movie! Because his part for both Marvin/ Goldie is smaller in the film I think it allows both the actor and audience to go, "Well of course he walks talks and acts like that!”

O: The addition of songs and the adaptation of certain sequences in the film to the stage means that the musical is distinct from the film in the inevitable way that adaptation involves repetition with difference.

This production also excitingly marks your West End debut so I would love to know how your experience has been particularly pertaining to that. 

How did that anticipation period go for you knowing you're about to experience this pivotal moment in your life? Did you face any such nerves before finally going on-stage? 

O: Nerves about the performances were definitely muted by the fun of the rehearsal process. The cast and crew are all lovely so that makes any performance anxiety dissipate. I know everyone else has got my back.

V: It has been a wild ride! Obviously there have been moments of doubt, but overall, the excitement and euphoria took over. I'll never forget standing behind that door on my first show, so nervous but so excited, and then when I opened it and made my debut with the most supportive audience possible, I just enjoyed the ride. Life changing moment for sure.

C.J: Oh yes! This was a huge win for myself, due to me waiting for my partner visa to be approved! When I tell you the immigration process is not easy, so it was all the more rewarding - when I took that first step on stage during the opening it felt like one of the biggest honours of my life!

The show is such a huge success and everywhere I look, I see nothing but appraise for the musical, the crew, and the cast. Way to go!

Are you all enjoying the reception you are currently garnering from the fans? 

O: I have been pleased to hear people say they enjoyed the show. It is so important to me that I do the character justice because he is so loved. I hope those who see it enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed working on it.

C.J: A simple answer! The Dreamers are what make this show so special! We are all blessed in the building to have fans of this show who genuinely appreciate and love what’s happening at the Adelphi Theatre.

V: Of course, who wouldn't! The fans for this show are so incredibly kind and they really care about the show. It's amazing to be a part of that.

Ending Note:- Thank you for joining me on this lovely interview, everyone! Wishing you all lots of luck on the success of this production!

Lastly, I'd love to know what's next for you all? As well as if there's any message that you wish to convey to your fans and supporters currently reading this interview? 

O: I’m open to whatever happens next! Thanks to all those who are supporting the show - it really means the world.

C.J: Ya gotta start somewhere or you’re never gonna get there.

V: Who knows what the future holds. I tend to live my life one day at time, truly appreciating every moment. I mean it's not every day one can say they've made their professional debut as a leading man on the West End, especially as an immigrant post-Brexit. I couldn't be more grateful. Oh, and if you've enjoyed my performance please vote for me for Best Professional Debut on the WhatsOnStage Awards.

Grab your tickets for Back To The Future The Musical!