June Carter Cash

The Woman, Her Music and Me

A co-production between GRID IRON and the NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND

Written and performed by Charlene Boyd.
Directed by Cora Bissett.

Premiered at Summerhall during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe then toured Scotland:
6th August – 22nd September 2024

Venues: Summerhall (Edinburgh Festival Fringe); The Barn, Banchory; Oran Mor, Glasgow; British Legion, Dunfermline – Outwith Festival; Cochran Hall, Kirkcudbright – Kirkcudbright Fringe; Millenium Centre, Stranraer in association with Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival; Brodick Hall, Arran in association with Arran Theatre and Arts Trust; The Rockfield Centre, Oban; Ullapool Village Hall in association with the Ceilidh Place, and Forres Town Hall, Forres – Findhorn Bay Festival.

AWARDS

Winner:
Scotsman Fringe First
Nominated:
Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland – Outstanding Performance, Best New Play, Best Design

In this, her first self-penned play, actor Charlene Boyd, shares the story of one of country music’s most iconic voices: June Carter Cash.

Directed by Cora Bissett, this is much more than a simple biography of June’s life but rather, this play with songs sees Charlene explore her own relationship with her musical heroine and their common experiences as performers and working mothers; a shared tale of empowerment, endurance and perseverance.

Featuring live music and staged in a cabaret-style setting, this play charts Charlene’s unlikely research trip to Nashville, during a rare travel window in Covid-times, and across the Appalachian mountains. She visited places and interviewed people who were of special significance to June and returned with much more than the story she thought she was going to tell.

In a setting inspired by Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café, Charlene gets to grips with a life less ordinary in a raw yet uplifting piece of gig theatre.

In co-production with National Theatre of Scotland.

AGE RECOMMENDATION: 16+, contains strong language and adult themes

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DATES & VENUES

28 August 2024
Barn, Banchory

30 August – 01 September 2024
Òran Mór, Glasgow

03 September 2024
British Legion, Dunfermline / Outwith Festival

05 September 2024
Cochran Hall, Kirkcudbright Fringe

07 September 2024
Millennium Centre, Stranraer

11 September 2024
Brodick Hall, Arran

13 & 14 September 2024
Rockfield Centre, Oban

17 & 18 September 2024
Ullapool Village Hall

21 September 2024
Forres Town Hall/Findhorn Bay Festival

22 September 2024
Forres Town Hall/Findhorn Bay Festival

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

BSL Interpreted Performances:
Aug 08, 17, 22, Sept 01 & 21

Captioned Performances:
Aug 10, 21 & 30

Audio Description:
Aug 14, 20, Sept 01 & 21

Relaxed: Aug 18

Chilled: Aug 20

What The Press Said

“A joyful celebration of two women and a whole lot more who saddled up and did things their way”.

The Herald★★★★★

“Absolutely joyous – a truly magnificent story of two remarkable women.”

Broadway World★★★★★

“Utterly captivating piece of theatre, bold, original, inventive”.

The Reviews Hub★★★★★

“Boyd is a sensation.”

Lisa in the Theatre★★★★★

“Full of wit, beauty, musicality, joy and heartbreak.”

The Scotsman★★★★

“Raw, radical and revealing.”

The Guardian★★★★

“If it feels like we’re living in a real life disaster movie right now, Edinburgh’s site-specific auteurs Grid Iron are here to take the temperature of the times in epic fashion…. Utilising the full expanse of the school, Muster Station: Leith reimagines the venue as part sanctuary, part concentration camp for those on the run from an environmental catastrophe close to home.”

The Herald★★★★

“whole lot of warmth, passion and soul and, at its heart, the story of two wonderful women.”

“Charlene Boyd, you did June Carter-Cash proud.”

Arts Hub★★★★★

“an utterly engaging, theatrical, and musical delight.”

“I was in tears from the pure joy of it all.”

“wonderful, touching, and rousing”

Theatre Weekly★★★★★

“Exceptional”

Mickey Jo Theatre★★★★★

“poignant but feisty”

The Times★★★★★

“A beautiful show which shines a light on women’s stories that are often overlooked, and this is a production that’s destined for greatness.”

Lost in Theatreland★★★★

“A glorious well-worked show.”

Musical Theatre Review★★★★

“a gorgeous piece of theatre”

“a tour de force for Charlene Boyd”

“mesmerising, fluid and searingly honest”

The List★★★★

“an excellent band – Ray Aggs, Amy Duncan and Harry Ward – brings musicality and atmosphere”

Across the Arts ★★★★

“enormous admiration for the persistence, courage, and sheer blazing talent of Charlene Boyd and June Carter Cash.”

ScotGayArts★★★★

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Cast

Charlene Boyd

MUSICIANS: Harry Ward, Ray Aggs and Amy Duncan

Production Team

Director
Cora Bissett

Producers
Ailie Crerar-Blythe & Judith Doherty

Set and Costume Designer
Shona Reppe

Musical Director, Composer and Sound Designer
Pippa Murphy

Lighting Designer
Elle Taylor

Movement Director
Laura Fisher

Dramaturg
Rosie Kellagher

Music Consultant
Roseanne Reid

Production Manager
Gavin Johnston

Company Stage Manager
Lee Davis

Deputy Stage Manager/FOH Manager
Marisa Ferguson

Sound Supervisor
Chris Gorman

Lighting Supervisor
Hana Allan

Wardrobe Supervisor
Aileen Sherry

Design Assistant
Jenny Booth

Assistant Stage Manager
Anna Reid

Set Builder/Props Maker
Ruben San Roman Gamez

Swing Tech
Archie Scott

Tech Support
Fee Dalgleish

Production Photography
Sally Jubb

Publicity Photograph
Jessica Hardwick

Programme/R&D Photography
Jeremiah Reynolds

View Our Programme

To read more information about the show, including the Writer’s and Director’s Note and team biographies, have a look through our production programme.