Review: Biff To The Future Tour, Worthing Connaught Theatre

(Photo Credit: Rod Penn)

Yo buttheads! It’s Biff the bully from Back To The Future! You got the story wrong three times, so it’s time to teach you a lesson about how it actually happened, Biff style. And there’s also lots of time travel. And a weird old dude. A clock tower. Oh yeah and a convenient diary to help move things along. Get ready for an unauthorised parody like no other, it’s Biff time! 

It all started with an idea and a conversation at a fringe festival that escalated into a show. It was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in twenty twenty five and won the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Award. The show is currently on its debut tour across the UK and Ireland (having completed stops in Australia). 

Assuming that the audience will already be familiar with the source material is a fair assumption, but it is important to keep in mind that it is still a live show. Not to mention that it still might be someone’s first encounter with the material. Content notes/warnings were not mentioned anywhere for this show. It is essential that they are. 

(Photo Credit: Rod Penn)

There’s a lot to be said for how the pre-show atmosphere can enhance the experience, creating a level of anticipation for what’s to come and setting the tone. In this case, classic time-themed music fills the space and I find grooving to songs like ‘The Time Warp’ and ‘Time After Time’ in my seat, having a bit of fun trying to guess other time-related songs.  

This also allows the audience to really take in the set, which is utterly iconic and filled with references to the Back To The Future films. It’s dynamic and doesn’t quite fill the space so we expect that this is going to be quite a high energy performance. 

The pep of this show is at about one point twenty-one gigawatts! 

Joseph Maudsley is a very strong writer and this show works exceptionally well as a solo-show, especially in regards to embracing the chaos. He is clearly a diehard fan and his knowledge shines through and it is well balanced with a healthy dose of comedy and audience participation, justifying why it needs to be a stage show. 

Although it is worth mentioning that the show relies very heavily on references to the source material, which aren’t always explained, so newcomers run the risk of being alienated but fans will absolutely adore this show. 

(Photo Credit: Rod Penn)

Maudsley is also great at engaging the audience and keeps everyone on their toes, which generates a lot of the comedy. Who doesn’t want to air guitar solo in the middle of a show?  Be warned, if you are sitting in the front rows, there is every chance of being invited up to be the Marty to Maudsley’s Doc. This may or may not involve a dog tunnel, you’ll discover the details in the future. 

As an actor, Maudsley’s multi-rolling is utterly hilarious and for the most part, the details in his vocal differentiation and physicality give the characters life. However, whilst his characterisation of Biff is fun, unfortunately it isn’t the strongest. This means that the story doesn’t always feel like it comes from Biff, even though it is supposed to be Biff’s take on events.

A funny and geeky tribute to the iconic sci-fi trilogy. Slide into your Delorean because where you’re going, you do need roads. 

*** three stars

Age rating: twelve plus

Content notes: Bright lights, flashing lights, loud noises, lots of haze, audience participation, reference to terrorists/terrorism, gunshot sound effects, car crash sound effects, brief reference to alcoholism, reference to incest, reference to sexual assault, reference to bullying, reference to death, reference to voyeurism, reference to violence and physical injury.

For more information tickets to see the next stop on the debut tour: https://bifftothefuture.com