Review: The Ballad of Johnny and June (Touring)

Tuesday 28th July 2026 at the Grand Theatre and Opera House, York

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Telling the love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, this show asks how much of the ideal is a tall tale and how much is gospel – after all, why let truth get in the way of a good story? With book by Des McAnuff (who also directs) and Robert Cary, the story is told with plenty of drama, heart and a pretty steady dose of light comedy. It’s a lively piece which is generous with its musical interludes (music supervisor/ arranger/orchestrator: Ron Melrose) and thanks to a pretty gifted cast, those musical moments land beautifully. 

The pair have a relatively classic tale on both sides, involving an invisibility-to-stardom trajectory and all that comes with it: temptation and distance on the road, narcotic crutches and lonely souls making poor decisions even with the best of intentions. Ryan O’Donnell’s narrative intrusions from side stage as the son of Johnny and June are gentle in their corrections – telling us that the wholesome perfect love story projected by the pair is in fact (and of course) not the whole story. At no point do these truth-tellings feel sensationalised or tarnishing though; more of a tame outlet for someone held in an amber glazed ideal of someone else’s making.

It’s a great cast and our leads are superb – with Christopher Ryan Grant as the deep-voiced, swaggering, charismatic Cash and Christina Bianco as the wise-cracking, no-nonsense, troubled, force of nature that is June. Grant’s vocals are thrillingly distinct and absolutely a fitting tribute to the man he celebrates in this performance, delivering “Ring of Fire”, “I Walk the Line” and “Hurt” with great stage presence. Bianco meets Grant beautifully in duets and nails her moments in the spotlight, whether for a comic ditty or a heartfelt ballad. And when it comes to duets and harmonies, those created by Bianco alongside Abigail Matthews, Celyn Cartwrigh and Anne-Marie Wojna are skin-tingling beautiful. 

On the whole the show takes an understated approach, respecting the country origins of the central pair and avoiding any louder show-biz sights and sounds, leaving plenty of space for the music itself to be centre stage rather than the bells and whistles surrounding it – having a live, on-stage band also fits the bill very nicely. There is however (and of course) some gentle choreography from Byron Easley and visuals from designer Robert Brill and costume designer Sarafina Bush are swift in transporting us into the story and shifting time frames. 

With brilliant leads and plenty of iconic music to enjoy, this is one for lovers of love and country alike.

The Ballad of Johnny and June is at the Grand Theatre and Opera House, York until 1st August 2026 – more information and tickets can be found here.