A NIGHT of entertainment in Hexham will celebrate the life of a young woman who took her own life while raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.

'The Quirky Show' will take place at the Queen's Hall next month in memory of talented performer Jodi Walsham, from Humshaugh, who died in January 2021 aged 23.

The show will be in the style of Comic Relief, with a range of music and dance acts set to perform as well as speakers who will shine a light on the work they do in suicide prevention and mental health.

"The show is about hope," said Jodi's mum Jayne. "Suicide is preventable in many, many cases.

"That's what the show is about - showcasing the help that is out there. "

Ex-BBC and Sky News journalist Mike McCarthy will talk about Baton of Hope, a charity initiative he started after losing his son Ross to suicide.

It is set to be the biggest suicide awareness and prevention initiative the UK has ever seen, and Jayne is the North East's project lead for the campaign.

Their specially designed baton will tour UK towns and cities for two weeks in the summer.

Other inspirational speakers at the show will include Andy Airey, from 3 Dads Walking, and suicide survivor Sue Cartwright.

A video message from Steve Phillip, who started The Jordan Legacy after also losing his son to suicide, will also be played.

Performers - many of them connected to Jodi in some way - will include indie folk singer-songwriter Chris Kelly, guitarist and singer-songwriter Dean Parker, Jamie Leven and his band Slow Town Cook, as well as Laren Barnes.

Students at Studio K Dance in Hexham, where Jodi used to attend, will perform, and a recording of Jodi singing will also be played.

Hexham Courant:

Jodi, who went to Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in 2018, where she studied community drama and applied theatre.

Chris Kelly, who was a friend of Jodi's and is the artistic director of the show, said: "We've been working on this for a little while.

"It's a very important cause, both for raising awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention, but also because it relates to someone we know, our friend Jodi."

The show will take place on Saturday, February 11 at 7.30pm.

Tickets will be priced at £5, £7 (with a £2 donation to local mental health charities), and £10 (with a £5 donation).

Throughout the day on February 11, some North East mental health charities including If U Care Share and Anxious Minds will set up stands in the Queen's Hall lobby for those who would like to find out more about the work they do.