Back To The Future creator Bob Gale has reflected on why the hit movie continues to resonate with audiences almost 40 years after the film was first released.
Set in 1985, it follows Marty McFly, a teenager accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean car built by his eccentric scientist friend Emmett "Doc" Brown, where he inadvertently prevents his future parents from falling in love – threatening his own existence – and is forced to reconcile them and somehow get back to the future.
Gale, 72, co-wrote the film starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd with writing partner Robert Zemeckis. Decades later, he wrote the book for the musical based on their original screenplay. Attending the 1,000th performance of the West End production at the Adelphi Theatre on Thursday, Gale said he thinks he gets the secret behind its longevity.
Addressing the audience at the end of the show following a standing ovation, the American screenwriter explained: "And all of this was from a freaky idea I had back in the summer of 1980. A thousand performances here at the glorious Adelphi Theatre.
"I'm not going to say that this is heavy, but it is one hell of an achievement. And it all comes down to one thing, one thing that makes us human and special to humans - a story.
"Throughout human history every culture, story has been so absolutely important. Our entire company, everyone you see up here, everybody down in the pit, everybody backstage, all of us our story tellers.
"We have been united in a common goal to a great story eight or nine times a week and for the past two and a half years.
"Stories can be powerful, they can be catharping, they can be inspirational, they can help us seeing things in a way that we haven't seen them before. They can give us answers, good stories can make us sad, or like this one, make us very happy.
"They touch on emotions and our humanity and they can bring us together in a common shared experience and create community.
"But there's a funny thing about stories, they don't exist without an audience because stories need to be told. So we owe our success a thousand times over to all of you here tonight and to all of the audiences that have come since our very first show.
"You support, your enthusiasm, your word of mouth, your love of this story, it blows all of us away," he concluded.
A number of celebrities were in attendance for the celebration, including Hannah Waddingham, Steph McGovern, Gok Wan and Dame Kelly Holmes.
Vanessa Feltz meanwhile had an awkward run-in with ex-fiancé Ben Ofoedu, who was there with new girlfriend Precious Muir.
