In the West End production of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical, Vasco Emauz is making his professional stage debut starring as Marty McFly alongside a cast including Cory English (Doc Brown), Orlando Gibbs (George McFly) and Sarah Goggin (Lorraine Baines). BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is currently booking until July 2025 at the Adelphi Theatre, and Vasco performed on Back to the Future Day, with Leigh Francis making a cameo as Principal Strickland. It has recently been announced that Vasco has been nominated at the WhatsOnStage Awards for his portrayal of Marty McFly for the Best Professional Debut category. Whilst training at Institute of the Arts Barcelona, Vasco was in the cast of Catch Me If You Can, Holiday Inn and Legally Blonde, and he graduated last year. We chatted to Vasco about starring as Marty McFly in BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical, what it’s like making his professional stage debut in the show and training at Institute of the Arts Barcelona.
You are currently starring as Marty McFly in the West End production of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical, what is Marty like to play and how is the run going so far?
Playing Marty McFly is an incredible ride from start to finish. It’s such a high energy part and you barely get any time off stage, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Getting to perform this outstanding script and score night after night is truly a dream come true, I couldn’t be happier to be part of this show.
How did you prepare for taking on the character, and how was it going on stage as Marty for your first performance?
Marty McFly is such an iconic character, a staple in pop culture, so I prepared as best I could to make sure I could do him justice. I did some good old character research and worked with our wonderful creative team to develop my take on this character. Stepping on that stage for the first time on opening night was surreal, I was nervous, of course, but I knew the cast and even the audience had my back from the second I opened that door.
How did you feel finding out you’d booked the role for your professional stage debut?
I was in disbelief, to be quite honest I cried a little, it was a lifelong goal of mine to lead a show in the West End, and with Brexit it seemed a very distant dream. For it to be my first job out of college was beyond my wildest dreams, I still have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure it’s real.
Had you seen Back to the Future on screen or stage before auditioning and was there anything that drew you to the production?
My dad introduced my brother and I to the original trilogy of movies when we were kids. The image of the fire tracks left by the DeLorean were forever etched in my memory. I had also seen the show back in January of this year, at intermission I turned to my friend Emilia who I was watching it with and told her that I wanted to play that part someday. I was truly blown away by the production, jaw on the floor.
How was it meeting the rest of the cast, which includes Cory English as Doc Brown, Orlando Gibbs as George McFly and Sarah Goggin as Lorraine Baines, for the first time and how is it working together?
Meeting the cast and getting to know them has been amazing. They are such wonderful people, apart from their incredible talent. It is a true privilege to get to work with them.
What is it like performing the music and choreography?
It’s electrifying, I feel like a rock star every single time.
How did you find the experience performing on Back to the Future Day and how was it having Leigh Francis cameo as Principal Strickland?
Back to the Future Day was such a fun experience, it was great to see the amount of love the fans have for this story. Leigh Francis was an absolute gem to work with, super sweet and hilarious, and I loved his take on Strickland.
What are you enjoying most about performing in BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical so far and what are you looking forward to for continuing your run?
I’m loving getting to be a part of this production and performing with an amazing cast and crew, I’m definitely stopping to smell the roses along the way, so I’m looking forward to just keep on enjoying the ride.
Why would you recommend booking tickets to see BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End?
I think BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical is an absolute must-see. From stellar performances from the cast to jaw-dropping special effects, set to an amazing score, this timeless story is guaranteed to have you leave the theatre with a smile on your face.
How was your time training at Institute of the Arts Barcelona and what was it like graduating last year?
My time at Institute of the Arts Barcelona was unforgettable. I have made friends for life in those three years, it was such a great, warm community of students. Living in a beach town also helps make life a bit better. On top of that, the training and faculty were outstanding, and I grew exponentially during my time there.
Can you tell us about some of the shows you performed in whilst training, which includes Catch Me If You Can, Holiday Inn and Legally Blonde?
The shows I performed in college all have a special space in my heart, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say Catch Me If You Can was my absolute favourite. Frank Abagnale Jr. is such an incredible part, and the whole show is so cleverly written with an outstanding score. I loved getting to explore the juxtaposition of the big Broadway-style musical numbers and the true pain, loneliness and fear hiding under that confident facade.
Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?
I first fell in love with acting in the cinema, when I was quite young. After realising the people on screen weren’t actually living the situation, but acting as if they were, I was fascinated. But I didn’t know it was something I could actually do, so I forgot about it. Right until I was 15 and discovered musical theatre, and instantly that passion reignited.
Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch, and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?
One of my all-time favourite musicals is Next to Normal, so you can imagine how excited I was to see the London production, and it did not disappoint. There are lots of shows that I want to watch that I haven’t gotten around to yet, top of the list for me right now is Operation Mincemeat, Hadestown and Titanique.
How do you like to spend your time away from performing?
With my time off, I like to spend it hanging out with friends, going to the gym, going for walks, and just enjoying the city, which I definitely need to explore more of.
Have you been given any advice over your career so far that has stuck with you?
To never stop loving it, never let it become just a job, keeping the passion alive is something that I really strive to do for the rest of my life. I love performing and I never want to feel any other way, no matter how hard things get.
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