Ballad Lines at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant) - Production images released

Emmie Newitt 27 January, 2026, 14:36

Co-created by award-winning Scottish singer-songwriter Finn Anderson (Islander) and award-winning director Tania Azevedo (Mayflies), Ballad Lines is currently receiving its London premiere at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 21st March.

ballad lines musical production images Yna Tresvalles, Sydney Sainté and Kirsty Findlay in Ballad Lines. Photo by Pamela Raith.

This run marks the next step in the musical's journey. Originally entitled "A Mother's Song", commissioned jointly by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Northwestern’s American Music Theatre Project. An earlier iteration of the musical received its world premiere in 2023 at Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling.

The heart-opening new musical Azevedo is about the stories we inherit and the choices each generation makes to break, reshape, or carry them forward. Ballad Lines features an original score that weaves together new songs with centuries-old traditional Scottish, Irish, and Appalachian ballads performed live, breathing new life into music that has echoed through generations.

The new musical 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.

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The cast will be led by Frances McNamee (Girl from the North Country) as Sarah; Rebecca Trehearn (Showboat) as Betty; and Kirsty Findlay (Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour), 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).

The band is made up of Sally Simpson on violin, Isis Dunthorne on drums, Shonagh Murray on keys and Madeline Salter on guitar.

The creative team for the production involves 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. Eliza Beth Stevens is the Assistant Director, James Anderton is the Production Manager, Kristie Winsen is the General Manager, and Jane Deitch is the Casting Director.