Cast announced for BALLAD LINES at Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Emmie Newitt 30 October, 2025, 10:15

The London premiere of the major new folk musical opens at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant from January.

ballad lines southwark playhouse elephant cast Frances McNamee, Rebecca Trehearn and Kirsty Findlay. Headshots provided by production.

Co-created by award-winning Scottish singer-songwriter Finn Anderson (Islander) and award-winning director Tania Azevedo (But I’m a Cheerleader), Ballad Lines is a heart-opening new musical, directed by Azevedo, that shines a light on identity, belonging, and the stories we choose to carry with us.

The original score of Ballad Lines weaves together new songs that feature centuries-old traditional Scottish, Irish, and Appalachian ballads performed live by an all-female band, breathing new life into music that has echoed through generations.

Ballad Lines follows three women who are bound together by blood, song, and choice, set in the 17th century. It's a story of love, legacy, and the ties that bind us all.

The cast will be led by Frances McNamee (Girl from the North Country) as Sarah; Rebecca Trehearn (Showboat for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress) as Betty; and Kirsty Findlay (Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, for which she was Olivier-nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role) who is reprising her role as Cait from an earlier iteration of the Scottish musical.

Completing the cast is Sydney Sainté (The Great Privation, Or How to Flip Ten Cents into a Dollar) 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 (covers Betty, Alix, Jamie, Thomas, Ronan, Shona); and Siân Louise Dowdalls (Diana: The Musical) as Shona/Ancestor (covers Sarah, Cait, Jean, Morna).

Ballad Lines will play from 23 January - 21 March 2026 at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant.

Ballad Lines Tickets