People

Jacob is an Arts Foundation Laureate and is a founding partner of Indian Ink. He collaborated to create Krishnan’s Dairy, The Candlestickmaker, The Pickle King, The Dentist’s Chair and The Guru of Chai and has performed them throughout New Zealand and internationally.

Jacob has won "Best Actor" in the 2010 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for 'The Guru of Chai'. He has also received an accolade for acting excellence and was nominated for the Stage Award for Best Actor at the Edinburgh Fringe. Jacob has featured on New Zealand TV series (Outrageous Fortune  and Shortland Street).

Jacob's family originates in Kerala, Southern India. He was born in Malaysia and immigrated to New Zealand at the age of four. Jacob has a degree in microbiology, a teacher’s diploma and is a graduate of Toi Whakaari – The New Zealand Drama School.

Justin is a founding partner of Indian Ink and collaborated with Jacob Rajan to create the company’s works: Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestickmaker, The Pickle King, The Dentist's Chair and Guru of Chai.  Indian Ink's productions have won numerous awards including two Edinburgh Fringe First Awards and Three production of the Year Awards in New Zealand. Justin has produced numerous national and international tours.  He is Deputy Chair of Q Theatre and has been heavily involved in its development from the beginning. In 2008 he received a Kaupapa Oranga Award for his services to theatre. Justin is a graduate of the John Bolton Theatre School and University of Auckland.

Murray has been dramaturg on all of Indian Ink’s productions. A poet and founder of Town and Country players (NZ),  Murray is the Professor of Drama at Auckland University where he heads the Drama course.

David has worked with Indian Ink since 2004. He composed, musically directed and performed the music for The Guru of Chai, for which he won the "Most Outstanding Composer" award in the 2010 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards.

The Dentist’s Chair,  he was nominated for “Most Outstanding Composer” at the 2008 Chapmann Tripp Theatre Awards.

He also performs the music and sound effects for The Candlestickmaker and Krishnan’s Dairy in NZ and abroad and has worked on Red Leap Theatre’s production of The Arrival, which premiered at Auckland Festival 09. David is a jazz graduate of the Wellington Conservatorium Of Music and composes and performs in many different musical settings: jazz, blues, improvised music, country, bluegrass and original projects.

http://www.myspace.com/davidwardmusician

John has worked on all of Indian Ink’s productions. With over 30 years experience John is a leading designer with an extensive portfolio of work including designs for NZ Opera, Auckland Theatre Company, The Large Group and many others.

Louise joined Indian Ink in early 2010, to produce 'Guru of Chai', which won "Best New NZ Play" at the 2010 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. Since joining Louise has taken the role as General Manager as well as the role of Producer for all Indian Ink productions. She joins Justin Lewis and Jacob Rajan as the third member of the Indian Ink team.

She has been working in the arts and entertainment sector and has over ten years experience in arts management.  Louise has worked with many high profile companies and acts, including Cirque du Soliel’s Australasian tour of Alegria and Live Nations Australasian tour of The Rolling Stones. Louise is a graduate of the Leadership Programme for High Potentials (NZ Institute of Strategic Leadership) and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Social Humanties and a Diploma in Marketing.

Cathy first joined the Indian Ink team in 1998 as the technical operator on the Herald Theatre season of Krishnan’s Dairy and has been the technical manager and touring technician for the Indian Ink productions Krishnan’s Dairy, The Candlestick Maker & The Pickle King since 2000.

Throughout the years on tour with Indian Ink Cathy has enjoyed the creative challenge of re-designing the original lighting designs of shows to fit a multitude of different venues and adapt to the subtle changes that occur with each show’s growth & development. Cathy designed the theatre lighting for the Guru of Chai when the show grew from house performances to the theatre setting.

In recent years Cathy’s career has gradually shifted from theatre to logistics management for large events including the Rugby World Cup 2011 fanzones in Wellington and the Cuba St Carnival street party, however she still enjoys taking time out from this to join the Indian Ink team for its touring seasons.