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Sneak Preview: Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash by Dave McKean

By John Freeman on April 7, 2016

As we’ve previously reported, Cumbria will host a world premiere performance and the launch of a unique graphic novel – Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash by Dave McKean – as part of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the First World War centenary.

Initiated by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash is a new graphic novel and multimedia performance by illustrator, comic artist, filmmaker and musician Dave McKean. McKean explores the work of Paul Nash, one of the most important British artists of the twentieth century, whose World War One experiences inspired him to create paintings of disturbing, lasting power.

The world premiere performance by Dave McKean and international musical collaborators will take place at Kendal Town Hall on 28th May, 2016. The performance will feature projections, animated illustrations, live music and narration. Additional performances will be held in France over the summer before the performance returns to Cumbria for the graphic novel launch in October.

Black Dog The Dreams of Paul Nash by Dave McKean is co-commissioned by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, On a Marche sur la Bulle and 14-18 NOW, WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The commission is also supported by Kendal College, Kendal Business Improvement District and South Lakeland District Council.

The graphic novel will be released in two editions – a limited edition in May and a full publication in October at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (14-16 October 2016), published by Dark Horse.

• Buy tickets for the world premiere here from the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.