Her story is the subject of Nick Abadzis’ beautiful, elegiac graphic novel published by First Second Books in 2007. “The genesis of the book was when I read about Laika when I was a child,” Abadzis said. “The idea that a dog was Earth’s first space traveller was cool, but I couldn’t get over the thought that she’d been sent on a one-way trip. It really terrified me and stayed with me.”
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A Kist o Riches: Writing Workshop with Janis Mackay
Thursday 3rd November, 7 – 9pm
sense memory to stimulate creative writing
Join this sensory exploration into memories with author and creative writing teacher Janis Mackay. Sense memory is a rich seam for writers and working in this way we can create stories/poems or simply pieces of writing that have authenticity and a strong sense of place.
7 – 9pm, An Lanntair Community Room, £6/5
Faclan Og
Inspiring events for schools will be held at An Lanntair, Stornoway, Tarbert Community Library and Sir E Scott School from Monday 31st October – Wednesday 2nd November.
For the full Faclan Og timetable please click here.
FOR CLASS BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT MOIRA@LANNTAIR.COM
A Hebridean Alphabet: Debi Gliori
Saturday 5th November, 10 – 11am
Martin’s Memorial Church Hall , £3 or family ticket £10
In her most recent picture book, well known Scottish author and illustrator Debi Gliori describes all kinds of things you might see over the course of a single day in the Hebrides. Children and their families can join Debi to hear her read this beautiful story and tell how she found inspiration in the landscape, seascape, weather, animals and birds. You will then be able to make your own Hebridean drawings.
Nick Abadzis: Drawing Workshop
12.30pm Saturday 5th November
Venue: Martin’s Memorial
An event for young adults from the amazing writer and illustrator of Laika, the graphic novel about the little stray dog that became the first earthling to go to outer space. Nick has also written and illustrated many comics, including the latest Doctor Who.
Ages 12+
Laika in the ‘basket’ that would go into Sputnik 2 and take her into space.
Twice Told Tales: Writing Workshop with Lily Greenall
Children in Halloween Costume, Uist 1930s. Photo: Margaret Fay Shaw
Wednesday 2nd November, 7 – 9pm, An Lanntair Community room, FREE EVENT
Folklore, fairy stories and tales of the supernatural are some of the oldest, best-loved and re-told stories. In this workshop with Lily Greenall, you will compare styles in which these have been explored and adapted by modern writers and write your own adaptation of a tale of your choice.
It will give you a fresh perspective on the imaginative content of these tales and the culture behind the symbols and figures which appear in them again and again.
You are invited to bring along samples of your own creative work or bring an example of a local or a favourite tale that you wish to share with the group or adapt yourself.
If you are interested in using folklore in your work, or are interested in learning more and are keen to develop your writing technique, this FREE EVENT is for you but booking essential.
Contact moira@lanntair.com for details
Club Night with set from Akutagawa: Kevin Macneil, Colin Macleod and Willy Campbell
10pm – 1am, Saturday 5-6 November
Faclan’s closing event with Akutagawa, named after the Japanese writer (1892–1927), regarded as the father of the Japanese short story, features the cream of Hebridean literary and musical talent. Kevin is joined by close friends Willie and Colin Macleod. They released an EP in 2016. Joining them will be performance poet Kirsty Nicolson.
There will also be a DJ set.
Makar: Jackie Kay
7.30pm Saturday 5th November
A special event in the company of Scotland’s latest makar (poet laureate). For the first half, Jackie Kay will be reading mostly from her poetry collections, THE EMPATHETIC STORE and FIERE after which there will be a conversation and discussion hosted by Ian Stephen.
(As part of Faclan Jackie is also appearing at Taigh Chearsabhagh in North Uist on Thursday 3rd November).
The Iceberg: Marion Coutts
5pm, Saturday 5 November
An exploration of the impact of death in real time, this is a response to the diagnosis, illness and death of Coutts’ husband, the art critic, Tom Lubbock who died of a brain tumour in January 2011. It gives an account of how a small family unit tried to stay together, charts the deterioration of Tom’s speech as it records the developing language of his child and navigates the journey from home to hospital to hospice. It was the winner of the Wellcome Book Prize 2015.
Marion Coutts is a visual artist and a lecturerer at Goldsmith’s College of Art in London. This is her first book.
Laika: Nick Abadzis
3.30pm Saturday 5 November
Laika was the abandoned puppy who on 3rd November 1957 (59 years ago almost to the day) became the first living creature to go to space. She would never return.
This brilliant international-award winning graphic novel casts light on the hidden moments of deep humanity behind a pivotal moment in history.
Nanook of the North, Silent film, 1922, Robert J. Flaherty (79m) with Live Piano Accompaniment by Peter Urpeth
1.30pm, Saturday 5 November
The first official documentary ever made, this silent film captures the struggles of the Inuk named Nanook and his family in the Canadian Arctic. While some sequences were staged, the film is authentic in its respect for the courage and ingenuity of its heroes. In 1989, it was one of the first 25 films to be selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
The piano score is Peter Urpeth’s 4th commission for An Lanntair for silent films, following Nosferatu (2011), Vampyr (2012) and The Passion of Joan of Arc (2014). For this special performance he will be joined by guitarist Mark Hewins.