New Gate Arts to bring Back to the Future story to The Fountain for Derry Halloween
21 October 2024
Fans of the iconic Back to the Future movie trilogy are in for a treat this Halloween as New Gate Arts and Culture Centre and North West Cultural Partnership are set to bring the films’ story to life with a dynamic street performance.
The time travelling adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown will be celebrated in and around the group’s premises in The Fountain with a performance of acting, dance and special effects.
The dynamic street performance will also feature a replica of the film’s famous DeLorean sports car which, famously combined with the Flux Capacitor, made time travel possible.
The show is part of Derry Halloween’s Awakening the Walled City Trail in and around Derry-Londonderry’s historic city centre each evening from Monday October 28th to Wednesday October 30th.
Darren Milligan, Creative Programming Executive at New Gate Arts and Culture Centre, gave the public an idea of what’s in store.
“You can expect a thrilling, immersive experience,” he said. “It's a blend of dance, music, light effects, and video projections, all working together to create a memorable street production.
“It will feature live performances from eerie Halloween-themed dancers, energetic jiving and futuristic choreography.
“There’ll also be rooftop musicians, a dramatic build-up of smoke and lights, and, of course, the star of the show—the DeLorean, which will make a grand entrance through the large doors of New Gate Arts & Culture Centre.”
The New Gate Arts Centre is a thriving arts and cultural venue in the centre of the city and has hosted a wide range performances, classes, workshops, festivals and events since it opened last year.
Their Conquer the Dragon performance as part of last year’s trail featured the Sollus Highland Dancers taming a huge dragon at the side of their premises that had invaded the city.
“The idea for this year’s show came following the success of Conquer The Dragon,” Darren explained. “We needed something spectacular that could come out of the side of our building again, and we have a few staff members who have a love for the Back to the Future movies, so we said why not try to get our hands on a replica DeLoreon car, and the idea grew from there.
“We wanted to create something that merges local heritage with the futuristic, adventurous spirit of Back to the Future.
“The DeLorean itself is such a recognisable symbol and we saw an opportunity to incorporate it into a performance that could entertain and engage the local community.
“The idea developed into a full-on spectacle with dance, music, and theatrics.
“For our young people, this opportunity is something that they want to keep doing and asking about year on year.
“Being able to perform at one of the world’s largest Halloween festivals in a show of this scale is an incredible experience for them.
“It’s a chance to showcase their talents on a big stage, gain confidence, and be part of something that celebrates both local culture and their own creativity.
“It’s not just a performance—it’s a celebration of their hard work and passion for the arts and it means the world to them to contribute to such a renowned event.”
The team at New Gate are currently putting the finishing touches to preparations for the show that will feature both characters and music from the original film.
“Preparations are going fantastically,” Darren added. “The team has been working tirelessly to ensure that every element comes together seamlessly, from the video projections and music to the choreography and technical effects.
“The young people have been rehearsing for weeks, and their energy and excitement is infectious.
“With each rehearsal, the performance is becoming more polished, and we can’t wait to bring it all to life for the audience.
“We're also delighted to get a number of community groups involved, we have Clooney Mens Shed making props for the trial, Cathedral Youth Club who are letting us turn their allotment garden into a science lab, and Sollus Highland Dancers who yet again are providing their high quality choreography.
“The experience will feature appearances by Doc Brown and Marty McFly and the DeLorean will be the central prop, making a dramatic live appearance.
“The rooftop musicians will bring Marty’s famous “Johnny B. Goode” performance to life, encouraging the crowd to get involved and the dancers will wear costumes that reflect the different themes—spooky Halloween, futuristic sci-fi, and 1950s jive—to complement the storyline.
“We’re incredibly proud of how this performance has come together, thanks to the hard work and creativity of everyone involved.
“It’s a celebration of Halloween, local culture, and the joy of performance.
“We hope everyone who comes to see the show will enjoy this unique blend of Back to the Future and local creativity.
“It’s going to be a night full of surprises, excitement, and unforgettable moments.”
You can get the full Back to the Future experience by starting at the Bishop Street Entrance to the Fountain at 6pm,7pm,8pm, and the street production will take place outside New Gate Arts and Culture Centre at 6.15, 7.15, 8.15pm.
Derry Halloween is delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council and funded by Tourism Northern Ireland and The Executive Office, with support from Ulster University and Air Coach.
Follow all the latest news at derryhalloween.com or keep up to date with the Derry Halloween Facebook page.