Love, music, and legend come alive on stage in Brighton this spring in The Ballad of Johnny & June, the acclaimed new musical celebrating the extraordinary lives and 35-year marriage of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Following sell-out seasons in California and Canada, the show arrives in the UK and Ireland for a six-month tour, landing at Theatre Royal Brighton from 14th-18th April.
Johnny was a small-town musician and storyteller with a voice that stirred the soul. June was a singer in her own right, and the comedienne of the first family of country music. The Ballad of Johnny & June shares the soaring highs and shattering lows of a love story with a unique musical backdrop.
From the stage to the road, through triumphs, heartbreak, and redemption, this brand-new musical—created with the support of their family and told through the eyes of their son, John Carter Cash—shows why Johnny and June remain one of the most influential couples of the 20th century.
Narrated through John Carter Cash, the musical blends storytelling with a powerhouse soundtrack of Johnny and June’s greatest hits, including I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Hey Porter, Jackson, I’ve Been Everywhere, and Wildwood Flower. The show also traces June’s roots with the Carter Family, pioneers of folk, bluegrass, and country music.
American musical theatre star Christopher Ryan Grant, who originated the role of Johnny Cash in the San Diego and Canadian premieres, brings his portrayal to the UK stage for the first time. He is joined by award-nominated actress Christina Bianco (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Wizard of Oz) as June Carter Cash, with Ryan O’Donnell as John Carter Cash, and an ensemble including Christopher Short, Chomba S. Taulo, Peter Peverley, Abigail Matthews, Anne-Marie Wojna, Celyn Cartwright, Denis Grindel, Lenny Turner, Michael Mahony, and Mia Jae in multiple roles and swing positions.
John Carter Cash, co-creator of the musical, says: ‘It has meant a great deal to me to be involved in bringing this new musical to the stage and see my parents’ story told with such care, heart and honesty. Johnny and June’s music was inseparable from their lives, and this musical captures that truth through powerful storytelling by a brilliant company.’
Directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), this production celebrates the enduring legacy, music, and love of one of America’s most iconic couples. Johnny Cash sold more than 90 million records worldwide, won 13 Grammy Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award, while June Carter Cash won five Grammy Awards, leaving a musical and cultural legacy that continues to inspire.
Further information: JohnnyAndJuneMusical.com
Performance details:
Dates: Tue 14 – Sat 18 Apr 2026.
Evening performances Tue – Sat at 19:30; matinees Wed, Thu, Sat at 14:30
This show has an interval
Tickets: From £15
Venue: Theatre Royal Brighton, New Road, BN1 1SD
Age guidance: 12+ (themes include drug and alcohol use, a rifle seen on stage but not fired, and some strong language)
Accessibility: https://seatplan.com/brighton/theatre-royal-venue/access/
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