News

The Ballad of Johnny & June at Leeds Grand Theatre – From Ring of Fire to heartbreak | Review

Declan Kelly - 16th September 2026

Johnny Cash’s biggest hits come to the stage, but the first act takes a little too long to find its rhythm

I’ll be honest, I went into The Ballad of Johnny & June knowing the songs far better than I knew the actual story.

Johnny Cash? Obviously. Ring of Fire? Of course. That famous black suit and unmistakable voice? You’d have to be living under a rock.

But ask me to tell you the ins and outs of Johnny Cash and June Carter’s relationship, and I probably wouldn’t have got very far.

So, sitting down at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House on Tuesday 15 September, I was going in pretty much blind, expecting some big country classics, big performances and, naturally, Ring of Fire.

And while the show definitely delivered on the music, I have to say to say that act one felt VERY long. There’s a lot of story to get through, from Johnny and June’s early lives and careers to their meeting, relationship, family life and the struggles that came with fame.

But there were quite a few scenes where I found myself thinking they could have been cut without taking anything away from the bigger story.

The narration was another thing I struggled with.

John Carter Cash guides us through his parents’ story, jumping back and forth through different points in their lives. I completely understand why it’s there, especially for someone like me who didn’t know the story inside and out.

But with such a huge story, incredible songs and two massive characters at its centre, it felt like the safer option.

I couldn’t help thinking that there was potential for a much grander piece of musical theatre, rather than relying so heavily on narration to move the story along.

But, then came act two.

And honestly, this is where the show completely won me back.

Suddenly there was more drive, more emotion and much more depth to the characters. Christopher Ryan Grant as Johnny Cash feels completely at home in the role. He captures that unmistakable voice and presence without it ever feeling like a simple impersonation.

And Christina Bianco as June Carter is brilliant. She brings so much energy and personality to June, but it’s her more emotional moments that really stay with you. Her solo before June dies is utterly heartbreaking.

It was one of those moments where the whole theatre seemed to go silent, and you could feel everyone completely invested in what was happening on stage.

The chemistry between Bianco and Grant is also a huge part of what makes their story work, while the rest of the cast all feel like they’ve been cast in exactly the right roles.

And then, of course, there’s the music.

I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Jackson, A Boy Named Sue and, naturally, Ring of Fire all make an appearance. Hearing those songs performed live with the band on stage is easily one of the show’s biggest strengths. In fact, it’s during these big musical moments that you realise just how much potential this story has.

I just wanted more of that in Act One.

By the time the curtain came down, though, I had gone from knowing Johnny Cash for a handful of songs to understanding much more about the man, June and the story behind the music.

The Ballad of Johnny & June is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 15 September until Saturday 19 September 2026. Tickets are available here.

Featured image - Supplied