(Photos from The Norman Mackenzie Collection)

Welcome to our Metagama Page.

Metagama
by
Dermot Healey

This is the story of emigration from the Western Isles in the 1920s portrayed through theatre, traditional music and multimedia. The play was toured throughout Scotland during August/September 2004 to great acclaim.

Audiences were led through the passage of time from the struggles of potato blight, the land raiders’ struggle after broken promises by the Government and the tragedy of the Iolaire at the end of the First World War to new opportunities across the Atlantic in Canada.

Metagama set sail from Stornoway on April 26 1923.

The play was written by Dermot Healey, one of Ireland’s leading poets and authors. Much of the material was taken from archives, interviews and individual experiences across generations.

Bringing together the facts of history are the play’s main characters who lead the way through time in an enchanting and emotive style.

Artair Donald “A powerful and moving performance”

Mairi Morrison “Displays her professional singing skills”

Vivien Graham “A thoroughly entertaining performance”

Chris Craig “A comical depiction of Lord Leverhulme”

Eoin MacIntyre “Accurate portrayal by a very convincing actor”

Donald MacKay “His confidence grew in the same way as his character”