Hay Brunsdon-Adams from National Holidays caught up with Oliver Nicholas who plays George Mcfly in Back To The Future: The Musical. Oliver was recently nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Professional Debut Performance. Read on to find out more about his role in the show, how he felt when he was offered the part and what it was like to work with some of the original creative team from the Back To The Future films! 

 

You play the role of George McFly in the show. Do you see any of your own personality in the character of George?

I absolutely do, I think George and I are quite similar in the sense that I have always loved science fiction. Growing up I was obsessed with Doctor Who, Star Wars and many other things (I still am!). I was also always quite shy and reserved when at school, until I went off to drama school and finally came out of my shell!

This is your West End debut. How excited were you to get the part in such an iconic show? Did you feel daunted at all?

I was absolutely ecstatic when I first learned I had got the role. My agent called me to let me know I’d got it whilst I was sitting at the desk of my old job; a receptionist for a fancy financial building in central London. I ended up running around the reception shouting, to many funny looks from the important business people. It was of course daunting to take on such an iconic role in such an iconic show. The film itself already had such a large following, and the musical had gained some seriously hardcore fans who had grown to love the original cast, so I just wanted to do the role justice (which I hope I have done!)

Huge congratulations on your recent nomination for WhatsOnStage's Best Professional Debut Performance award. Can you tell us how you felt when you first found out that you were nominated?

Thank you! It was truly incredible, I was at home getting ready for the show, I saw the announcement was about to go live so I put the video on in the background whilst getting ready as I didn’t hold out too much hope for a nomination. When I heard my name I had to go over and rewind it to double check as I couldn’t quite believe it. It really means the world and I’m so grateful to everyone who has voted so far! 

Were you a fan of the films and the musical before you joined the production? And what initially attracted you to the role?

I was (and remain) a massive fan of the films, my dad showed them to me when I was younger and I have loved them ever since. I had never seen the musical before I was cast, but I had been told by multiple people that they thought I’d be a good George, despite not being trained in Musical Theatre, and training mostly in classical acting. When my agent told me about the audition I was instantly very excited and very eager to get the role. I love physical comedy and had heard such amazing things about the show so it seemed like a perfect fit. After I got cast and finally saw the show, I can’t describe the excitement and disbelief I was feeling that I was actually going to be performing in such a fantastic and fun show. 

What was it like to work with some of the original creative team from the Back To The Future films during the rehearsal process?

It was amazing, everyone is so down to earth, lovely, kind and so easy to work with. We weren’t warned when Bob Gale first came into rehearsals, so I was just casually warming myself up and turned around to see him smiling at me with his hand out, introducing himself. It was so surreal to have such a legend of science fiction just casually saying hi! The same thing happened with Alan Silvestri, we had just finished a run of the show and he patted me on the back to say he thought I was doing a great job, and again it was completely surreal to have a giant of the music world congratulating me, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it! 

How challenging was it not to imitate the film and really make the part your own?

This was one of the main things I had to focus on when working in rehearsals. Throughout the audition process I had been trying to do a very close impersonation with a little bit of my own twist on it, but one of the first things our lovely director John Rando said to me was “Don’t copy the film, don’t copy Hugh, we hired you because we like you and want to see what you bring to the role” so it took some working out but I’m grateful that they pushed me in that direction as it really allowed me to explore and find my own George whilst paying homage to the original film and all the fans’ favourite moments.

Can you tell us about a Day in the Life of Oliver Nicholas preparing for a performance of Back To The Future? And do you have any 'about to go on stage' rituals? 

So before I go on I always make sure I get ready in the same way, I have a specific order of costume, makeup and hair I like to do to really help me get into the character because we start as older George in the original timeline, which means I’m aged up with makeup and hair and have to embody the older character. I find doing the makeup and costume in this ritualistic way really helps me embody George. I also have specific playlists that I’ll play for certain sections of the show, pre show I have a more 80s movement inspired playlist which has songs like Pump It Up by Elvis Costello & The Attractions and Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads, the music videos for both those songs were big inspirations for the way older George moves and dances, so it very much helps me get the movement into the body. I do have one little ritual, I always do a fly and collar check before I step on stage at any point. I have once gone on stage with my flies down and once with my top shirt buttons undone… never again! 

Which other character from a West End show would you love the chance to play one day?

If they ever end up coming to London, I’d love to play Adam in Beetlejuice (very similar to George I know, hopefully not type casting myself here) and Shakespeare in Something Rotten. They both seem like really fun roles in really fun shows! I’d also love to originate a role one day and really be able to make something my own from the ground up. 

What are the biggest challenges this show presents, and to your role in particular?

One of the main challenges is constantly keeping the energy all the way up. George is an incredibly challenging role physically and vocally, as a lot of the comedy comes from his overly exaggerated and long limbed movements, paired with the iconic nerdy and weak voice. It requires a lot of concentration and energy to look and sound like you have no control of your body, whilst also making sure you are actually under complete control and keeping safe! Also like I said earlier I was never trained in Musical Theatre, so singing alone in front of so many people is something I’m still getting used to! 

What's your absolute favourite scene in the show?

I absolutely love doing the song Put Your Mind To It and the scene leading into it. I think it’s such great fun, and I always have a blast doing it with Ben. The scene and song are full of some great physical comedy moments. It’s so freeing, slowly building up to George embracing himself and his quirks, then finally letting go in a silly and fun dance break where George finally bonds with his son, something he was never able to do in the original timeline, even though he doesn’t know it’s his son. I always end the scene with a massive smile on my face, and that’s not me acting!

Finally, why should audiences come to see Back To The Future: The Musical?

I think the show is just all round phenomenal. It’s so much fun, pays great homage to one of the greatest and most loved films of all time whilst adding its own great moments. The songs are so great, energetic and catchy. The cast are all so talented (I know I’m biassed, but truly the people I have the pleasure of working with everyday are so amazing!) and the tech and visual aspects of the show are an absolute spectacle. I would encourage anyone and everyone to come and see it! 

Fancy watching Back To The Future The Musical on the West End this year? Secure your place on our two-day coach break.