Indian Ink Theatre Company

Jacob Rajan (left), at his investiture as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to theatre, by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, on 23 May 2013

Indian Ink Theatre Company is a New Zealand theatre company founded by actor Jacob Rajan MNZM (b. 1966) and director/writer Justin Lewis (b. 1967).[1] Founded in 1996, Indian Ink's first theatrical production was Krishnan's Dairy, which went on to win the Chapman Tripp Award for Production of the Year (1997). The following year Krishnan's Dairy presented in the bigger theatre Downstage Theatre and was so popular the season was extended by five shows.[2] Over the years Indian Ink's productions have been toured through New Zealand and overseas with presentations including Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestick Maker, and The Pickle King.[3] Its most recent production is Dirty Work: An Ode to Joy (2023).[4]

Kiss the Fish (2013) was heavily influenced by Balinese masks and gamelan and Rajan and Lewis had studied in Indonesia. The original title of the play was Monkeys and Men.[5]

Niew Zealand theatre-maker Murray Edmond has been dramaturg with Indian Ink.[6]

Plays

  • "Krishnan's Dairy", 1997
  • "The Candlestickmaker", 2000
  • "The Pickle King", 2002
  • "The Dentist's Chair", 2008
  • "Guru of Chai", 2010
  • "Kiss the Fish", 2013
  • "The Elephant Thief", 2015
  • "Welcome to the Murder House", 2018
  • "Mrs Krishnan's Party", 2019
  • "Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream", 2021[7]
  • "Dirty Work: An Ode to Joy", 2023

Awards

References

  1. ^ "Jacob Rajan". Playmarket. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  2. ^ Smythe, John (2004). Downstage upfront : the first 40 years of New Zealand's longest-running professional theatre. Wellington, N.Z.: Victoria University Press. ISBN 0-86473-489-1. OCLC 60386677.
  3. ^ Guest, Bill (2010). Transitions : four decades of Toi Whakaari : New Zealand Drama School. Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. Wellington [N.Z.]: Victoria University Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-86473-642-0. OCLC 669968400.
  4. ^ "Indian Ink Theatre Company". Indian Ink Theatre Company. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  5. ^ Mead, Kate (8 September 2013). "Master of Arts". Sunday Star Times. pp. E32–33.
  6. ^ Maunder, Paul (2013-01-01). Rebellious Mirror: Community-based Theatre in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Canterbury University Press. ISBN 978-1-927145-45-6.
  7. ^ "Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream". Q Theatre. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  8. ^ Laurie Atkinson; David O'Donnell, eds. (2013). Playmarket 40: 40 years of playwriting in New Zealand. New Zealand: Playmarket. ISBN 978-0-908607-45-7.

Further reading

  • Forster, Michelanne and Vivienne Plumb (eds). "Twenty New Zealand Playwrights". Playmarket. Wellington, New Zealand. 2013.