It was a night where vintage and urban chic met to create a quirky backdrop for another Tell It In Colour storytelling night.  The venue this time was a warehouse in Ballymena, which had been transformed for this latest gig in our ‘Stories of Life’ tour.  Cold grey walls were now covered in fairy lights, fabric and vintage pictures.  The tattered old story book was in place, the stage was set…

The vision of these events is to transmit hope to places across Northern Ireland.  The evenings are woven around the songs of Ballymena singer song-writer Stewart McIlrath as storytelling, music, art and photography powerfully combine.

At this, our Ballymena gig, stories were shared of local students who have got active on the streets around Queens University, sharing love, friendship and warm cups of tea with homeless people; stories of a community raising money for one of its most vulnerable members; stories of people crossing traditional divides.

And then we heard from Jacqui.  We invited her on stage as one of the ‘characters’ from a TIIC story.  Jacqui has a passion to restore dignity to men and women who prostitute themselves on the streets of this country.  She shared her motivation behind what she does and then stood back as Stewart performed the song ‘Unexpected Places’.  Its inspired by her life, how she gave up her birthday to hang out with a couple of young men who  are transvestites.  It’s a story of sacrifice, humour and Love.

Feedback from the night was really positive.  Leanne Shields from Kilkeel said she found it to be “a night of fun and friendship, I loved listening to hopeful stories about our little country…inspiring :)”

While Jonny Martin from Antrim, who was a newcomer to TIIC, said he enjoyed “the positive atmosphere” of the event.

So where next for Tell It In Colour?  Our ‘Stories of Life’ Road Show will be continuing… but our next location has yet to be decided…. For more info on our tour please get in touch through the website.

Also don’t forget to check out - http://www.stewartmcilrath.com/

And keep up to date with what we’re up to on Facebook - just search for Tell It In Colour

“Life is springing from the emptiest spaces, beauty is glimmering in unexpected places.” (Stewart McIlrath, Unexpected Places)