Aria Entertainment and KT Producing have announced the full cast for the London premiere of the major new folk musical Ballad Lines, opening at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 23 January to 21 March 2026.
Co-created by award-winning composer Finn Anderson and director Tania Azevedo, Ballad Lines is a heart-opening new musical exploring identity, belonging, and the stories we choose to carry with us.
Leading the cast are Frances McNamee (Girl from the North Country) as Sarah, Olivier Award-winner Rebecca Trehearn (Showboat) as Betty, and Olivier Award-nominee Kirsty Findlay (Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour) reprising her role as Cait.
All three appeared on the Ballad Lines concept album released in September 2025.
Joining them are Sydney Sainté (The Great Privation) as Alix, Ally Kennard (The Creakers) as Jamie, Thomas, Ronan/Dance Captain, Yna Tresvalles (Six the Musical) as Jean, Gracie Lai (Jersey Boys) as Morna/Ancestor, and Siân Louise Dowdalls (Diana: The Musical) as Shona/Ancestor.
Ballad Lines follows three women across centuries and continents—Cait in 17th-century Scotland, Jean in 18th-century Ireland, and Sarah in 21st-century New York—bound together by blood, song, and choice.
The musical blends original songs with traditional Scottish, Irish, and Appalachian ballads, performed live by an all-female band.
Originally titled A Mother’s Song, the musical began in 2014 and premiered in 2023 at Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling.
The creative team includes set designer TK Hay, music director Shonagh Murray, choreographer Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, costume designer Carly Brownbridge, lighting designer Simon Wilkinson, and sound designer Andy Johnson.
Ballad Lines is lead produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Kate Taylor for KT Producing, co-produced with Wolk Transfer Company and TRW Production.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
