Aria Entertainment and KT Producing have released the first production images for Ballad Lines, the new folk musical now running at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 21 March 2026.
Co‑created by award‑winning composer Finn Anderson and director Tania Azevedo, the production weaves original songs with re‑imagined Scottish, Irish and Appalachian ballads, performed live by a band featuring Sally Simpson, Isis Dunthorne, Shonagh Murray and Madeline Salter.
Leading the company is Frances McNamee as Sarah, alongside Olivier Award‑winner Rebecca Trehearn as Betty and Olivier Award‑nominee Kirsty Findlay as Cait, reprising her role from an earlier Scottish iteration of the musical. All three appeared on the concept album released in 2025.
The cast also includes Sydney Sainté as Alix, Ally Kennard as Jamie, Thomas and Ronan, Yna Tresvalles as Jean, Gracie Lai as Morna and an Ancestor, and Siân Louise Dowdalls as Shona and an Ancestor.
Set across three centuries, the story follows Sarah, a queer woman in New York, who is pulled into the lives of her Scottish ancestor Cait and an Irish teenager, Jean. Each woman faces the same question about motherhood and its personal cost.
Originally developed under the title A Mother’s Song, the musical began in 2018 through a commission from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Northwestern’s American Music Theatre Project. An earlier version premiered at Macrobert Arts Centre in 2023.
The creative team features set designer TK Hay, music director Shonagh Murray, choreographer Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, costume designer Carly Brownbridge, costume supervisor Molly Fraser, lighting designer Simon Wilkinson and sound designer Andy Johnson. The assistant director is Eliza Beth Stevens, with James Anderton as production manager, Kristie Winsen as general manager and Jane Deitch as casting director.
Produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Kate Taylor for KT Producing, Ballad Lines is co‑produced with Wolk Transfer Company and TRW Production.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
