Ballad Lines (2026)
Finn Anderson & Tania Azevedo
Venue: Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Company: KT Producing & Aria Entertainment
Composer & Lyricist: Finn Anderson
Director: Tania Azevedo
Musical Director: Shonagh Murray
Choreographer: Tinovimbanashe Sibanda
Set Designer: TK Hay
Costume Designer: Carly Brownbridge
Sound Designer: Andy Johnson
Assistant Director: Eliza Beth Stevens
Production Manager: James Anderton
Production Electrician: Si Moss & Alfie Sissons
Lighting Programmer: Tom Turner
Lighting Operator: Lily O’Connor
Photographer: Pamela Raith
Press Quotes
“heartbreaking, full-throated folk music for the ages”
Emma John, The Guardian
“Simon Wilkinson's lighting design uses a colourful palette to embrace the action on T K Hay's set, a design that harnesses maritime motifs with a mountain range as the backdrop to Sarah and Alix's New York apartment. It is a meaningful setting against which to have Sarah sing her own new song.”
Sandra Giorgetti, British Theatre Guide
“simple choices are made that expand the space beyond the theatre walls, beyond even time and history. The lighting follows each narrative separately, with colour themes to complement different strands and characters. We feel comfortable in a New York apartment, country porch, minister’s house and travelling boat. But mostly, Wilkinson’s fast-paced and colourful design speaks to that of an experienced musical theatre lighting designer, reflecting the stunning musicality visually.”
Charlotte D’Angelo., The Recs
“Effective lighting adds to the kinaesthetic pleasure as the soaring and sonorous folk vocals of these performers with “stories and songs in their eyes” raise the roof.
Charlotte Purkis, Musical Theatre Review
“Simon Wilkinson’s lighting is sharply judged, grounding the present in a clean palette while the past bursts with impressionistic colour. Each narrative thread gets its own scheme, keeping the audience oriented without major set changes, and the hues subtly define character – from Jean’s watery tones to the red and blue clash of Cait’s inner conflict.”
Hannah Bothelton, The Spy In The Stalls
“Simon Wilkinson’s lighting design and Andy Johnson’s sound design worked well together to create an experience that feels larger than life in the theatre and reminiscent of a lively ceilidh simultaneously.”
Cathie, Theatre & Tonic
