A real, imaginary, extraordinary journey about faith, family, memory, magic, and the stories we tell.

In 563 AD, St Columba left Ireland and sailed to the island of Iona, founding a monastery and a legacy which have stood since for centuries.

In 1963, John Barry of Hillsborough and his twelve fellow pilgrims set off on that same voyage, recording his experiences in a book he called 'Joyful Pilgrimage'.

In 2026, Tom Barry, an actor and writer from North London, recreates these journeys for the first time on the London stage. His own voyage of discovery asks why we leave home for the unknown - what we seek, find, and leave behind. An epic tale told and retold, in the wild imagination and beyond, across oceans of time, within moments of wonder.

'Getting to Iona' was first performed in 2024 in partnership with St Columba's Church, Pont St, London - then at St. Columba's Church, York - at St. Columba's-by-the-Castle, Edinburgh - and most recently at St. Colmcille's Church, Belfast, as part of the 4 Corners Festival. Their support has been invaluable in the project's development, and they deserve special thanks. This production is the show's theatrical debut.