Cumbrian creatives Kirstie Pelling and Stuart Wickes are bringing their gig-theatre show Broken Chords to Stretford during Greater Manchester’s Month of Hope on 3 October 2026 at 3pm.
Blending original music, storytelling and humour into a powerful exploration of grief, the show grew out of the couple’s response to the sudden death of their son. As a way of moving forward, the husband and wife team picked up guitars and began writing songs together. Over three years, those songs evolved into a theatrical piece reflecting how they learned to live with loss.
Part concert, part confession, part love story, the production is coming to Stretford Public Hall in October as part of the Shining a Light on Suicide campaign. Tickets are free thanks to a partnership with NHS Greater Manchester. Broken Chords plays out in an intimate, cabaret style setting designed to make people feel comfortable to relax and share their own stories.
“Audience members stayed long after the show, unwilling, it seemed, to break the spell. In the busy atmosphere, Broken Chords looked more like the beginning of a movement than the debut in a limited show-run.” – Northern Arts Review
Performed by Kirstie and Stuart themselves, this funny, moving and defiantly hopeful production is directed by Joe Sumsion, former Artistic Director of Lancaster’s The Dukes Theatre. He described it as one of the most authentic pieces of theatre he has helped shape: “The fascinating blend of music, spoken word and dialogue creates original ‘must-see’ theatre. Audiences feel they have come on a journey and enjoyed an unforgettable event.”
Judd Skelton, Greater Manchester Strategic Commissioning Lead for Suicide Prevention & Bereavement Support for NHS Greater Manchester, hopes the show will start important conversations. “Our Greater Manchester Shining a Light on Suicide programme aims to reduce the stigma around suicide and create opportunities for people to talk about suicide in an open and safe way. The partnership with Broken Chords is a fantastic and creative opportunity to reach people and bring the subject of suicide out of the dark.”.
For Stuart Wickes, the show is about connection: “Broken Chords is not just our story – it’s yours too. The one that changed you. We all carry losses, but no one has to carry them alone.” Meanwhile Kirstie Pelling said the intention is to send audiences home feeling uplifted: “The production looks at how we navigated loss and remained close as a family. While undoubtedly sad in places, it’s shot through with humour and hope.”
For more information about support if you, or someone you know, is having thoughts about suicide visit Shining a Light on Suicide. The Greater Manchester Bereavement Service also provides a free service for anyone working or living in Greater Manchester who needs bereavement support.
Tickets are free of charge and available from Ticketsource http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/brokenchords and must be booked in advance. You can find more information about Broken Chords at http://www.brokenchords.art
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