Ballad Lines

If you want something empowering and explosive, this is the musical for you. Filled to the brim with emotion and beautiful folk music. It is a reminder of the importance of family.

If you were a fan of Benjamin Button, then this might just fill that hole in your heart. Ballad Lines is a folk musical by Finn Anderson and Tania Azevedo. It takes you on a journey through the family tree, back through generation to generation, from our main character, Sarah. This journey is sparked by some tapes she rediscovers that her late auntie Betty left to her. The family have folk songs that have been passed through generations and taught to each generation to help guide them through life. The lyrics are filled with power, pain and motivation to drive through the trials and tribulations of life. Each cast member embodies different distant relatives of Sarah, and how their stories fuse to build the family that they are in the present day. The performers who take on these roles are powerhouses; the connection they form with the audience and the energy that goes into each performance is utterly extraordinary. This is a punchy musical that has a bright future. A lot of love and passion went into each detail of this musical, and it shows.

Production image by: Pamela Raith

There are so many earth-shattering moments in this show that hold the audience in a firm grip. The cast is a solid and united group, and their voices fused together move mountains. One standout performer was Yna Tresvalles, who plays Jean. The passion and energy pumped into her character is unreal! Her voice and how she is so attached to the character and the way the story unravels are interesting to watch. Each time she enters the stage, you are drawn to her, which is a great casting, as the whole idea of her character is how she is a strong-minded individual, and those around her are drawn to her. It's lovely to watch the unity of the cast, their voices have to work in perfect tandem for the songs to carry the weight and beauty of folk music and establishing this unity is imperative; this is achieved, and the sounds give you goose bumps.

Production image by: Pamela Raith

Sarah's character is played by Frances McNamee and the arc of her character is the whole purpose of the show. The change in her character is not the clearest, whilst in the story her path changes, but her character does not seem to visually change in terms of the way she acts. Whilst the musical is all about her relationship with her family changing and how she becomes more accepting of her roots, at the end, she still seems cold towards her Aunt Betty, who is played by Rebecca Trehearn. Betty is played well; she is perfectly conveyed as this stern character who does not approve of Sarah's choices in life and in terms of her sexuality. The rift between the two is clear, and their clash is emotive. There should be more time spent and more opportunity for Sarah's character to create a connection with the audience and to show the climax of her emotions. It does not truly feel like her character is allowed to reach the 'rock bottom' that her story takes her to for us to truly appreciate the change and how it builds her into her new and improved version. The other characters that are her relatives are given more time to show these emotions, which could also symbolise and mirror what is going on inside Sarah's head at this moment. They are all experiencing this period of struggle. The songs where they all cry out in struggle are truly moving.

Production image by: Pamela Raith

In terms of visuals, there is a vast range of colourful and symbolic moments that are lovely. There is a wonderful moment where the cast is taking apart tapes and pulling out the string in the tapes to create this moment of entanglement. This presents how the songs are what bring the family together and how they help shape their path from generation to generation. It's also nostalgic to see tapes pulled apart. As a child, I used to love pulling the string out of tapes... yes, it possibly taints their quality, but it's so fun! Considering this is a show all about reflecting and remembering your past, it's rather interesting how this moment conjured up personal memories and made audience members think of their own past whilst watching the show. The idea of tapes is such a strong choice and works better than something like CDs or books. There's something special about tapes. Southwark Playhouse's layout is a divine environment for this production; the cast are dotted around the stage, and the entrances between areas of the audience mean that cast members can stand in different areas of the theatre to bring sound all around the house. The way folk music immerses the ears of its listener and has this beautiful power is embellished by the setup of the theatre. It's a delightful treat for the ears and the senses; it's hard not to be blown away by the sound.

As a woman audience member, it's hard not to be empowered by this piece of theatre. The story is all about taking the reins of your life and shaping a future that you feel is right for you, despite the pressures of the expectations your peers have of you. It's an emotional journey, and the topics explored could conjure up wild emotions due to the relatability. This is a hefty trigger warning. It explores miscarriage, childbirth, sexuality and relationship/family problems, and each audience member needs to be aware of the content they are about to watch, because it could remind them of a time they are personally working on. That being said, for others, this could be a show that helps them on their own personal journey. This is a piece of writing that reminds you of the incredible things that theatre can do for its viewers, the deeper understanding it presents and a deeper look into the character. The ability to leave the theatre having spent the time to do this is such a rare and special experience. This show packs a punch, its development is clear, and there is a bright future ahead! With a few adjustments and a little bit more love, it's heading in the right direction to be a great and important piece of theatre. A folk musical is such a wonderful thing, as the music has to be charged with so much electricity to make it so powerful. The cast is a handful of passionate and energetic vessels, and they bring this show to life. You are guaranteed an emotive journey and to be deeply impressed by the rigour of this piece of theatre! This show is a must-see, and you find yourself wanting to give a standing ovation for this powerful piece.