Last night we went to see Back to the Future: The Musical at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, and it was an absolute blast. If you love the original movie, then you will really appreciate this musical version! The actors playing Marty and George McFly completely nailed their roles, the mannerisms, the voices, the attitude and it felt so close to the original movie characters. It was hilarious and mesmerising to watch.
The music was brilliant too. You still get the iconic film moments, but the musical numbers really surprised me. There are brand new songs we had never heard before, and they slot so seamlessly into the story that you could be convinced that they’d always been part of Back to the Future.
Furthermore, the effects!!! From the lighting to the sound to the way they bring the DeLorean to life on stage, it’s full of WOW moments. It feels like a proper cinematic spectacle, just happening right in front of you.
If you’re a fan of the original movie, or you just want a fun theatre experience with energy and nostalgia, this one delivers.
Great Scott! A fun fact for you all, the DeLorean car itself, the iconic time machine was actually manufactured in Belfast back in the 1980s.
Rent has always been one of our favourite musicals even though, up until now, we had only seen the movie and listened (on repeat!) to the soundtrack. We have been obsessed with its songs, the raw emotion, the humour, and the unforgettable characters ever since we first heard of this musical over a decade or more. Every track hits differently, from the heartbreak of One Song Glory to the infectious joy of La Vie Bohème.
Rent tells the story of a group of young artists and friends living in New York City’s East Village during the late 1980s. Struggling to make ends meet, they face love, loss, and the harsh realities of life with courage and creativity. Set against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the musical celebrates community, acceptance, and living authentically in the face of uncertainty. The recurring line “No day but today” captures the heart of Rent, a reminder to embrace the present moment, to love deeply, and to live fully despite whatever challenges life brings. It’s a message that feels just as powerful and relevant now as it did when the show first debuted.
The story itself is a modern reimagining of Puccini’s opera La Bohème. Where the original was set in 19th-century Paris and centred around bohemian artists battling poverty and illness, Rent moves the story to New York City’s East Village in the late 1980s. The characters face different struggles; addiction, ambition, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but the themes remain the same – love, art, friendship, and the fleeting beauty of life. Jonathan Larson transformed a classic tale into something raw, real, and profoundly human.
So when Rent came to the Sydney Opera House, I knew we couldn’t miss it. Surprisingly, despite living in Sydney for many years now and taking countless photos outside the Opera House, we had never actually been inside until now…and what a first experience it was!
The show was everything we hoped for and more, powerful performances, vocal powerhouses, and a production that captured the grit, energy, and heart of the original story. It is one of those musicals that reminds you why you love theatre in the first place, the music, the message, and the magic of live performance.
For me, Rent is more than just a musical, it is a stark reminder to live life with passion, to make time for the people and moments that matter, and to not let life pass by unnoticed because truly, there is “no day but today” (one of their famous lines).
Gin & tonics at the interval. It was lovely to step outside and see the Opera House from another angle.
WrookieSchU 