For several decades in the late Twentieth Century, Johnny Cash was the biggest country music star on the planet. He dominated the genre along with a handful of others like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson (who briefly appears in this show). Cash's music, rooted in a traditional American genre, gained him legions of fans all over the world. With him until the end was his wife and musical collaborator June Carter Cash, who predeceased him by only a few months in 2003.
‘The Ballad of Johnny & June' is based on the true love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. In the tradition of a jukebox musical, the romance and marriage is told through their songs. Played and sung live in the country music tradition, you can at times imagine you're stepping back in time to see a performance at the Grand Ole Opry. The story is narrated by the couple's son, John Carter Cash (who in real life takes an executive producer and story consultant credit for the production).
The first act takes us back to the origins of Johnny Cash, when he was married to his first wife Vivian Liberto. It gives the audience an understanding of his heavy-drinking father and tragic brother as the reason for Cash's demons and battles with addiction that came later. There is immediate chemistry with June Carter when they meet backstage at a gig. But she is married too. The show doesn't sugarcoat the impact of two families being broken to bring a couple together. The second act details the passionate, tumultuous family life of Johnny and June, with a redemptive story at its heart of finding the courage to overcome demons.
If you love the music of Johnny Cash, then you'll love hearing some of his best-known recordings brought to life in this show. ‘Ring of Fire' and ‘Walk the Line' feature strongly, as does ‘Jackson', ‘A Boy Named Sue' and his unique take on ‘Hurt' that brought him to the attention of whole new audiences and generations. There's something indescribably great about hearing live music and vocals, and the musical numbers are well chosen and superbly performed.
I also strongly recommend seeing the show for Christopher Ryan Grant's sensational performance as Johnny Cash. He gives a phenomenally good impersonation, capturing Cash's tics, the way he walked, held his guitar, smiled… It's hard to believe you're not looking at a young Johnny Cash, such is the complete conviction with which Grant slips into the role. It isn't merely an impression, though. Grant is a seriously talented actor, convincingly conveying a tricky range of emotions. Undoubtedly, he takes the audience on quite the rollercoaster with him. Not only that, but he has a great singing voice too, and performs Cash's back catalogue with authenticity and panache. Christopher Ryan Grant as Johnny Cash is easily one of the greatest performances I've seen at the Churchill.
Christina Bianco is also impressive as June Carter Cash. Her role is steadier and less dramatic than that of her much more volatile husband. Ultimately, it becomes more of a supporting part, as it's Cash who is driving the plot. Bianco gives June Carter Cash a Virginian homely charm, but she also displays plenty of chutzpah when standing up to her troubled husband. The chemistry between Grant and Bianco is there from the start, and the two leads sell the story. Together, they are undoubtedly a compelling reason for country music and musical theatre fans to head out and catch the show.
The story doesn't quite cohere, and not every loose end is tied up. Notably the question: did Cash honour his promise to Vivian? Among the darkness of addiction and self-destruction there are moments of lightness and humour. Particularly the origins of how Cash's recording career began, when he received feedback on his “squirrelly” delivery, which received a good laugh.
Ryan O'Donnell gives witty audience interactions as John Carter Cash, the couple's son. And he plays the guitar well too. Although the story is about his parents, and not about him, we did end up wondering how sanitised for theatre audiences is the sequence of events and his part in them. ‘The Ballad of Johnny & June' allows a peek into the lives of one of music's greatest love stories, but, as the narrator tells us, it's a shame to let the truth get in the way of a good story. Perhaps it's enough that the musical conveys the essence of an enduring love, and gives audiences a version that they would want to see. ‘The Ballad of Johnny & June' may help to humanise two legends, depicting the struggles that shaped their music. In the final analysis, it's an enjoyable and entertaining tribute to the careers of two people who lived for so long in the spotlight. But it's the astoundingly good lead performances that remain the most impressive part of the overall show.
Cast: Christopher Ryan Grant, Christina Bianco, Ryan O'Donnell, Celyn Cartwright, Abigail Matthews, Peter Peverley, Christopher Short, Chomba S Taulo, Anne-Marie Wojna Writer: Des McAnuff, Robert Cary Director: Des McAnuff Running time: 140 mins including interval Theatre: The Churchill, Bromley Dates: 2nd – 7th March 2026 Book for ‘The Ballad of Johnny & June'
