This summer, the Montserrat Government UK Office was honoured to receive copies of three works by celebrated Montserratian author and cultural pioneer Dr Yvonne Weekes — Volcano, Nomad, and her newly released poetic memoir Living Stone. Dr Weekes’ donation not only enriches MGUKO’s growing collection of Montserratian literature but also reflects her lifelong passion for preserving the island’s stories and cultural identity.
Dr Weekes was born in London to Montserratian parents and grew up between London and Montserrat. In 1987, she moved to Montserrat where she founded the Rainbow Theatre Company, taking Montserratian performance to stages across the Caribbean. She later became the island’s first Director of Culture, a role in which she championed the arts as a vital part of Montserrat’s identity. Following the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano, which forced thousands of Montserratians to relocate, Dr Weekes resettled in Barbados, continuing her work in theatre and arts education while maintaining a deep connection to her homeland.
Her writing is as powerful as her work on stage. Volcano, which won the Frank Collymore Literary Arts Award in 2004, offers a moving memoir of life in Montserrat during the volcanic crisis. Nomad, her 2019 poetry collection, reflects on displacement, migration, and belonging. Her latest release, Living Stone, launched in London in June 2025, is a poetic memoir exploring race, gender, class, and faith. Structured as “three sonic movements” of reflection, it reminds readers that even in grief and sorrow, ancestral memory empowers us to live fully and meaningfully.
By donating these three works to MGUKO, Dr Weekes has made an invaluable contribution to our efforts to showcase Montserrat’s cultural and literary heritage. The books will serve as a resource for researchers, students, and members of the diaspora, while also standing as a testament to the creativity, resilience, and enduring spirit of Montserrat and its people.
We warmly thank Dr Weekes for her generosity and for her lifelong dedication to telling Montserrat’s stories on page, stage, and screen.
🔗 Find out more: www.yvonneweekes.com
