Ballad Lines, a new musical is coming to the Southwark Playhouse Elephant

The show will run from 23rd January to 21st March 2026

Three generations. Timeless ballads. One unforgettable story.

From award-winning singer-songwriter Finn Anderson (‘Islander’ (Southwark Playhouse Borough, Off Broadway), ‘Streets’) and West End director Tania Azevedo (‘&Juliet’, ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’), Ballad Lines is a heart-opening new musical that shines a light on identity, belonging and the stories we choose to carry with us.

Sarah thought she’d left her childhood behind. A queer woman living in New York City, she’s long severed ties with the folk traditions of her upbringing. But when old ballads resurface, so do the voices of her ancestors — pulling her on a life-changing journey across time.

Spanning continents and generations, Ballad Lines follows three women bound together by blood, song, and choice. In 17th-century Scotland, Cait, a minister’s wife, wrestles with the constraints of her role. In 18th-century Ireland, Jean, a spirited teenager, faces an uncertain future. In 21st-century New York, Sarah is caught between the life she’s built and the pull of the past.

Blending original music with traditional Scottish, Irish, and Appalachian ballads, Ballad Lines is a story of love, legacy, and the ties that bind us all.

Co-produced with Wolk Transfer Company and TRW Production. An earlier version of Ballad Lines (previously ‘A Mother’s Song’) was first produced at Macrobert Arts Centre in 2023 by KT Producing and Macrobert Arts Centre.

Members of the creative team are Finn Anderson Co-Creator and Composer/Lyricist, Tania Azevedo Co-Creator and Director, Shonagh Murray Music Director, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda Choreographer, TK Hay Set Designer, Simon Wilkinson Lighting Designer, Andy Johnson Sound Designer, Eliza Beth Stevens Assistant Director, James Anderton Production Manager, Kristie Winsen General Manager, Jane Deitch Casting Director, Ylan Assefy-Waterdrinker Social Media Manager, Paul Hicks Marketing and Ticketing Manager.

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