Biff To The Future
Palace Theatre
Westcliff on Sea
Thursday 16 April
Age guidance, 12+
Interview with the show's creator Joseph Maudsley
Palace Theatre
Westcliff on Sea
Thursday 16 April
Age guidance, 12+
Interview with the show's creator Joseph Maudsley
Say the names ‘Marty McFly and Doc’ and what’s the first thing that springs to mind? Great Scott! Surely it has to be Back to the Future, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s 1985 sci-fi blockbuster starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd.
A landmark of American cinema and widely regarded as a cultural touchstone for a generation of moviegoers, Back to the Future has been hailed ‘one of the greatest films ever made’, one of the ‘50 Films to See Before You Die’ and, in 2007, was selected by the US Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as a piece of work that was ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’.
Not bad for a film charting the adventures of a likeable American kid, a mad-professor with a time-travelling DeLorean car and, of course, a boo-able villain – step forward Biff Tannen, played across all three Back to the Future films, yes there were two sequels, by Thomas F Wilson. It’s to that character actor Joseph Maudsley looked when deciding to pay homage to the trilogy in a one-man show – Biff to the Future, a comedic reimagining of all three Back to the Future films was born.
He recalls, “I remember watching the first film as a kid and being totally blown away. It had me gripped and I leaped in the air when I was told there were two more to watch. They made me fascinated by time travel, igniting the ‘where would you go, what would you do’ conversation. It sparked such storytelling and imagination in me.”
He continues, “Having already performed a number of condensed shows, I’d always wanted to write my own parody, so, with the Back to the Future trilogy being my favourite films, it was a no brainer that’s what I would do.”
Equally fascinated by what happened to the people left behind in ‘real time’ as Doc and Marty raced around changing history, Maudsley decided telling it from the perspective of Biff made that character the perfect narrator of the story. He explains, “It also allowed me to comment on characters and plot from a different angle, sharing it with the audience with a knowing and loving look”.
Now, after an acclaimed sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Biff to the Future is set to embark on a UK Tour, modestly, its creator admits he was surprised how quickly it took off. “It’s the first show I’ve written that has been produced, so to sell out was just bonkers. It was such an incredible feeling, hearing people laughing at jokes we’d put together from my head. I’m so happy other fans enjoyed it as much I did writing and performing it.”
Fans tend to know everything about their chosen obsession, which meant Maudsley, a self-confessed ‘geek level fan’ of the films, had to ensure everything in the show was absolutely accurate while still making it accessible to those less familiar with the three movies.
“I spoke to a lot of people after the show, a mix of lifelong fans and people who hadn’t seen any of the films and received great feedback. One person thanked me for getting their partner finally interested in watching the films after seeing the show, he reveals. “So I don’t think you have to know the films to enjoy the show. Biff guides you through the story with his own added input step by step.
“A great team helped me bring this to life and they all had such an eye for detail, so for fellow geek level fans there’s plenty hidden and woven throughout the show, the costumes and props for them to spot. I can’t tell you how many times I’d watched these films before writing Biff to the Future, let alone once I had started writing it. Numerous times I lost myself down so many rabbit holes hunting for Easter eggs to scatter through the show.”
Which brings us to the crux of the matter; What is it about the three Back to the Future films that has allowed them to attract such a dedicated fan base? “Back to the Future is a masterpiece combining great storytelling, memorable characters, technical brilliance, and connectable themes. It’s meticulously constructed, with running jokes, callbacks, and tight storytelling that rewards repeat viewings. I’m still noticing bits with every watch. The effects too were groundbreaking at the time and still hold up well today,” observes Maudsley.
“It left just the right footprint in pop culture without being overexposed or diluted with endless sequels or reboots. That balance is rare and that is why the fan following is so enduring. At its core, it’s about family, identity and taking control of your future. Blending sci-fi, teen coming of age, adventure and comedy… and there’s a plethora of quotable lines from across all three films that are instantly join in-able. All I need to say is “Roads…” and someone will finish the line.”
If you’re wondering, ‘where we’re going, we don’t need roads’, completes the line, and talking of audience participation, it proves a hilarious part of Biff to the Future. “I love it,” beams the star of the show, “During one such moment, an audience member was so excited to be picked he couldn’t remember that it was 1.21 gigawatts of electrical power that was required to activate the flux capacitor and initiate time travel.
“Now, normally I wouldn’t make a thing of that but this particular guy was wearing a t-shirt that had the answer on the front. It made for a very funny moment as the crowd started yelling, ‘Read your t-shirt’.”
Even now, Maudsley admits to “getting tingles” as Doc sends Marty back to the future at the end of the second film, only for another Marty to appear straight away, racing towards Doc explaining he’s ‘back… from the future’… as the DeLorean disappears and the end credits roll, stating, ‘To be concluded’.
He laughs, “Watching that for the first time as a kid, blew my tiny little mind.”
A landmark of American cinema and widely regarded as a cultural touchstone for a generation of moviegoers, Back to the Future has been hailed ‘one of the greatest films ever made’, one of the ‘50 Films to See Before You Die’ and, in 2007, was selected by the US Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as a piece of work that was ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’.
Not bad for a film charting the adventures of a likeable American kid, a mad-professor with a time-travelling DeLorean car and, of course, a boo-able villain – step forward Biff Tannen, played across all three Back to the Future films, yes there were two sequels, by Thomas F Wilson. It’s to that character actor Joseph Maudsley looked when deciding to pay homage to the trilogy in a one-man show – Biff to the Future, a comedic reimagining of all three Back to the Future films was born.
He recalls, “I remember watching the first film as a kid and being totally blown away. It had me gripped and I leaped in the air when I was told there were two more to watch. They made me fascinated by time travel, igniting the ‘where would you go, what would you do’ conversation. It sparked such storytelling and imagination in me.”
He continues, “Having already performed a number of condensed shows, I’d always wanted to write my own parody, so, with the Back to the Future trilogy being my favourite films, it was a no brainer that’s what I would do.”
Equally fascinated by what happened to the people left behind in ‘real time’ as Doc and Marty raced around changing history, Maudsley decided telling it from the perspective of Biff made that character the perfect narrator of the story. He explains, “It also allowed me to comment on characters and plot from a different angle, sharing it with the audience with a knowing and loving look”.
Now, after an acclaimed sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Biff to the Future is set to embark on a UK Tour, modestly, its creator admits he was surprised how quickly it took off. “It’s the first show I’ve written that has been produced, so to sell out was just bonkers. It was such an incredible feeling, hearing people laughing at jokes we’d put together from my head. I’m so happy other fans enjoyed it as much I did writing and performing it.”
Fans tend to know everything about their chosen obsession, which meant Maudsley, a self-confessed ‘geek level fan’ of the films, had to ensure everything in the show was absolutely accurate while still making it accessible to those less familiar with the three movies.
“I spoke to a lot of people after the show, a mix of lifelong fans and people who hadn’t seen any of the films and received great feedback. One person thanked me for getting their partner finally interested in watching the films after seeing the show, he reveals. “So I don’t think you have to know the films to enjoy the show. Biff guides you through the story with his own added input step by step.
“A great team helped me bring this to life and they all had such an eye for detail, so for fellow geek level fans there’s plenty hidden and woven throughout the show, the costumes and props for them to spot. I can’t tell you how many times I’d watched these films before writing Biff to the Future, let alone once I had started writing it. Numerous times I lost myself down so many rabbit holes hunting for Easter eggs to scatter through the show.”
Which brings us to the crux of the matter; What is it about the three Back to the Future films that has allowed them to attract such a dedicated fan base? “Back to the Future is a masterpiece combining great storytelling, memorable characters, technical brilliance, and connectable themes. It’s meticulously constructed, with running jokes, callbacks, and tight storytelling that rewards repeat viewings. I’m still noticing bits with every watch. The effects too were groundbreaking at the time and still hold up well today,” observes Maudsley.
“It left just the right footprint in pop culture without being overexposed or diluted with endless sequels or reboots. That balance is rare and that is why the fan following is so enduring. At its core, it’s about family, identity and taking control of your future. Blending sci-fi, teen coming of age, adventure and comedy… and there’s a plethora of quotable lines from across all three films that are instantly join in-able. All I need to say is “Roads…” and someone will finish the line.”
If you’re wondering, ‘where we’re going, we don’t need roads’, completes the line, and talking of audience participation, it proves a hilarious part of Biff to the Future. “I love it,” beams the star of the show, “During one such moment, an audience member was so excited to be picked he couldn’t remember that it was 1.21 gigawatts of electrical power that was required to activate the flux capacitor and initiate time travel.
“Now, normally I wouldn’t make a thing of that but this particular guy was wearing a t-shirt that had the answer on the front. It made for a very funny moment as the crowd started yelling, ‘Read your t-shirt’.”
Even now, Maudsley admits to “getting tingles” as Doc sends Marty back to the future at the end of the second film, only for another Marty to appear straight away, racing towards Doc explaining he’s ‘back… from the future’… as the DeLorean disappears and the end credits roll, stating, ‘To be concluded’.
He laughs, “Watching that for the first time as a kid, blew my tiny little mind.”
