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Jacob’s Notes

I'm a little uncomfortable being called a writer. It's a cap that doesn't quite fit or perhaps, more accurately, looks too big on me. I've only written three things. It's probably why my programme notes end up being a little sheepish and apologetic. The notes for Krishnan's Dairy were essentially a disclaimer designed to waive any responsibility for transgressions against my Indian heritage. It's a responsibility I'd like to pick up and waive again vigorously for The Candlestickmaker. The play is set in India. But it's an India of my own making. I trample rough-shod over barriers of language, geography, religion and culture. My size eleven hob-nail boots made of sacred cow leather and stamped with that oh so disreputable brand: "artistic license". Whether this causes offense only time and my mother will tell.

Not satisfied with the prospect of being disenfranchised by just one culture I have 'Riverdanced' my size elevens through another - the culture of Science. It too is a culture I have a tenuous claim on, I have a B.Sc in Microbiology. However, the science of The Candlestickmaker centres on the heady realms of astrophysics.

My intrepid director, Justin, and I poured over textbooks, essays and biographies to research The Candlestickmaker. We were enlightened, inspired and often baffled by what we read. You see writing a play isn't rocket science but astrophysics is. There were some points when we just ran out of brain. I may have a B.Sc in Microbiology but I'm no Isaac Einstein. The presentation of scientific concepts and ideas in this play is only as accurate as our ability to understand them and when the going got rough… we made things up. All the things that make Science great: completeness, accuracy, impartiality are not necessarily the stuff of great theatre. The true bond between Science and Art is imagination: great Art and great Science require great imagination.

This is the synthesis to which we aspire, our formula for happiness. This synthesis is embodied in the inspiration for this play, Subramanyan Chandrasekah, and it is to him and his family that I owe the greatest apology if I have caused any offense. I hope this is not the case and that The Candlestickmaker is viewed in the spirit that it was intended: a tribute to Chandra, a man who slipped in and out of the last century with little fanfare, but quietly changed the way we look at the universe.

Thanks for coming. I hope you enjoy the show.

Jacob Rajan