The Ballad of Johnny and June – Grand Opera House York

Last night I had the privilege of being invited down to the stunning Grand Opera House York to review the latest leg of the UK & Ireland tour of “The Ballad of Johnny & June”, self described as being possibly the greatest love story in all of country music and I have to say I can’t argue with that! The plot follows the famous “man in black” Johnny Cash through his career from young church going boy to world famous country star and the ways his life crosses over with the possibly more famous (at least initially) June Carter. The show is cleverly narrated by their son John Carter Cash and he actually tells us different perspectives of different periods of their life, sometimes from Johnny’s side, sometimes from June’s and even sometimes from somewhere more true in between the two. I really was drawn to the way that this show was directed in this sense, with certain clever decisions such as the children and young Johnny and John being hauntingly played by an empty spotlight, voiced over by Carter Cash being a particular highlight.

Christopher Ryan Grant leads the show as the legendary man in black. There are a rare few performances in a rare few shows where you see someone perfectly embody a character like Grant does in this show. Everything from the way he holds his guitar, the twitchiness and cheeky winks and that luscious southern drawl just IS Johnny Cash. I struggle to think of a more respectful and accurate portrayal of a real character on stage in a good while. Bravo indeed! Christina Biancoco stars as June Carter Cash. Bianco is a real firecracker in this role, with enormous energy and a brilliant cheekiness to her portrayal. Her connection with Grant was natural and the bond between them felt unforced and true. Ryan O’Donnell rounds out the named principals as their son, John Carter Cash. O’Donnell was perfect in this narrative role, being comfortable to sit back and let the action take place around him whilst always being engaged and present. The way he presents the story is warm but fair, handling the darker moments in a controlled manner. I can’t list them all individually but the ensemble covering the multiple roles given were outstanding and I applaud them all.

In terms of productions aspects, I really liked the set, simple wood with levels throughout not needing mass set changes and immersion breaking blackouts. The sound balance was slightly off at first but this was quickly remedied within the first 10-15 minutes and the lighting was crisp and appropriate for show. I also particularly liked the limited use of video projection to set the scene and time periods, limited enough to not break the illusion but a handy helping hand through the story.

Overall, I would highly recommend seeing this production. The Ballad of Johnny and June is a deeply human story about the most famous couple in country music and really presents a very enjoyable but hard hitting evenings viewing.

Reviewer: Adam Craddock

Reviewed: 28th July 2026

North West End UK Rating: