Indian Ink History

Indian Ink has become one of New Zealand's most successful touring theatre companies performing in every major New Zealand theatre and city since 1997; from intimate black boxes to 800+ Lyric theatres. Return seasons sell out before opening, and the company has broken box office records on the way to a total audience of more than 175,000 people.  Indian Ink has toured internationally to great success and has won two Fringe First Awards from its two trips to Edinburgh.

Founded in 1997 by Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis, the company was a team of long term collaborators who combine to make work that is beautiful, funny, sad and true. The ‘serious laugh’ (using laughter to open the audience to deeper themes) is central to the company’s approach, along with a love of mask and of story. The company blends western theatrical traditions with eastern flavours and has been critically acclaimed for its use of live music, heightened theatricality, humour, pathos and great storytelling.

The company’s first three plays (Krishnan’s Dairy, The Candlestickmaker, The Pickle King) have been collected in "the Trilogy book" published by Victoria University Press, and the works are taught in secondary school and university drama departments. The company has also been acclaimed for its business practices being frequently cited as a benchmark for excellence, innovation, flexibility and sustainability.

Indian Ink has five productions in repertoire that are proven in domestic and international touring. Currently Indian Ink is developing another new production due to premiere in late 2010.

The Guru of Chai (premiered 2010) :  A Chaiwalli (teamaker) awakens us to the power of the divine and warns us of the dangers of keeping your soul locked in a cage.

The Dentist’s Chair (premiered 2008) : A comedy with bite: a dentist is haunted by the ghost of the first man executed in the electric chair.

The Pickle King (premiered 2002) : A comedy about what’s worth preserving and finding the courage to love.

The Candlestickmaker (premiered 2000): Black Holes and the formula for happiness collide when a New Zealand Indian student visits his ancestral home for the first time.

Krishnan’s Dairy (premiered 1997): A shopkeeper and his wife reveal a love as great as that of the emperor who built the Taj Mahal.