Music · Poetry · Storytelling

with Louise Coigley MRCSLT

Honouring Frida Kahlo

What happens when two women, separated by time and circumstance, find a way to transform pain into creativity?

In Back to Back, storyteller and spinal injury survivor Louise Coigley weaves her own extraordinary journey with the life, loves and art of Frida Kahlo.

As an adolescent, Louise emerges from the cocoon of a spinning hospital bed following spinal surgery that nearly paralysed her. Born with clubfeet and living with severe scoliosis from childhood, she spent years being moulded, winched and manipulated into shape. Then, as a young adult and in extreme pain, she encountered Frida Kahlo’s paintings.

Here was someone who understood.

Through Frida’s life and work, Louise discovered recognition and a new way to navigate suffering: through creativity.

With humour, tenderness and humanity, the stories of these two women interweave in a powerful and poetic exploration of pain, resilience, identity and healing.

Louise is joined by Olivier-nominated actress Melody Grove and Aly Macrae, actor and musician of stage and screen. Together, they create a richly textured performance of storytelling, singing and music. Melody also performs Louise’s powerful new prose poem, From the Frocks.

“I feel I travelled with you along the river of your life, moving fluidly from tears to warm smiles as the performance unfolded.”
Rhian Collings, Creative Producer & Documentary Maker

Louise Coigley

Louise worked as a speech and language therapist for forty years and founded Lis’n Tell, a live inclusive storytelling organisation which has taken her across the UK and to four continents. She has trained parents and professionals and worked with children, teenagers and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.

A spinal injury survivor herself, Louise brings her own fractured journey into her storytelling, creating a powerful and poetic narrative of perseverance, creativity and healing.

Her work has been described as:

“Downright compelling and funny, giving courage - inspires creativity.”
Ashley Ramsden, Founding Director, The School of Storytelling

“Empathic & entertaining - using stories as seamless healers.”
David D. Campbell, Storyteller, Poet, Writer and Broadcaster

Frida Kahlo: Creativity & Endurance

In July 2026, September Publishing released Wings to Fly on Creativity and Endurance in the Words and Pictures of Frida Kahlo, curated, introduced and edited by Louise.

The book grew from Louise’s fascination with Frida Kahlo and her own experience of finding creative possibility in the midst of physical suffering.

In September 2025, Louise was also featured in the documentary Living with Scoliosis, alongside other scoliosis survivors. The film is available on YouTube.

A performance of courage, creativity and connection

Back to Back invites us to look differently at pain - not by denying it, but by discovering what can emerge from it.

It is a story of two women, two bodies and two journeys: one separated from us by nearly a century, the other unfolding in our own time. Through words, music, poetry and storytelling, Louise creates an intimate and inclusive space in which laughter, tears and hope can sit side by side.

Suitable for ages 16+.
This performance contains some intense themes.

Find out more:
www.lisntell.co.uk 

Book Tickets: £20

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rudolf-steiner-house/t-yzzkmak