A MAJOR new Scottish folk musical following three generations of women will premiere with an eight-week run in London, it has been announced.
The London premiere of Ballad Lines, a new musical featuring Scottish, Irish and Appalachian ballads, will follow 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 Ulster, Jean, a teenager, steps into "an uncertain future". In the present day, Sarah, a queer woman, finds herself torn between" the life she’s built and the deep, unexpected pull of her ancestors' voices".
Co-created by award-winning Scottish singer-songwriter Finn Anderson and award-winning director Tania Azevedo, Ballad Lines — which was previously known as A Mother’s Song — was previously shown in 2023 at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling.
Full casting for the London premiere will be announced in the coming months.
Ballad Lines weaves together original new songs with centuries-old traditional Scottish, Irish, and Appalachian ballads performed by an all-female band, breathing new life into music that has echoed through generations, unearthing the deep ties between storytelling, heritage, and identity.
A new concept album, recorded by an all-star guest cast, will be released on September 12, 2025, with a one-off concert at Cottiers in Glasgow on September 15.
Performances from a host of Scottish artists from the album, including Gaelic Singer of the Year Kim Carnie, Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland Award-winner Kirsty Findlay, and Celtic Connections festival regular Beth Malcom, will take place alongside the album’s full all-female band.
The all-female band features:
- Acoustic guitarist Anna Massie
- Highland fiddle player Laura Wilkie
- Electric guitarist Jenny Clifford
- Bassist Charlotte Printer
- Scottish-Icelandic percussionist and drummer Signy Jakobsdottir
Tickets to the launch concert are on sale now.
Singer-songwriter Anderson said: “Our ambition with Ballad Lines was to combine the raw, timeless power of folk music with the sweeping emotional drama of the musicals we both love. By reimagining traditional ballads through the lens of a modern-day queer relationship and fusing them with contemporary styles, we hope this show helps reclaim folklore as a space for diverse, intersectional storytelling — a space where more of us can see ourselves reflected.
"Ballad Lines explores how songs travel — how they shift, evolve, and change hands over time. So it feels really exciting that London audiences can now become part of that story too.”
Azevedo added: “Finn and I are thrilled to be bringing Ballad Lines to London after such a rich development journey. We wanted to make a piece that weaved together questions of ancestry, belonging, and the legacy carried in our bodies with urgent themes of female autonomy and personal freedom.
"At its heart, it’s an epic story of beauty, and transatlantic drama, one that asks how we honour those who came before us while carving out the lives we choose today. I believe audiences will see themselves reflected in this musical, and I can’t wait to share it on stage.”
The musical will premier at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from January 23 until March 21, 2026. Tickets are on sale here from 11am on September 2.
