Founded by Justin Lewis and Jacob Rajan (MNZM) 29 years ago, Indian Ink is now one of Aotearoa’s most successful theatre companies – winning 13 national and international awards, critical acclaim, standing ovations and sell out seasons. Since 1997 their original plays have enriched the lives of over 544,100 people. Alongside a whanau of multi-talented artists, Indian Ink creates vibrant, fresh, culturally diverse theatre that combines artful storytelling, mischievous wit and theatrical magic in a way that celebrates our differences and connects us through our shared humanity.
A Note from Justin
When Jacob shared Kabuliwala with me I was immediately struck by how relevant the story is to our modern world and how much my suburban home is like a walled compound in 19C Calcutta – minus the horses and servants!
Tagore puts himself at the centre of Kabuliwala as storyteller. His own concerns are the lens through which the man from Kabul is viewed and so the truth lands as a profound shock to him. It’s a story that reveals as much about the teller as his subject.
As I worked on the play, I was confronted with how easy it is for me to hide in the comfort of my bungalow and how hard it is to stay curious and open to others. The very thing I most enjoy about travel – getting to know people who live and think differently to me – seems the last thing I want at home.
Kabuliwala is a sideways look at the migrant worker experience, it’s about recognising our shared humanity and it’s about the ache that comes with being a parent. As a father, it speaks to my heart.
Adapting the story to 21C Auckland required some big shifts. The social structures are different, so we had to translate an Afghani fruit seller and the household of a wealthy Bengali writer into something more familiar. We also had to figure out how to realise Mini, the 5-year-old girl at the heart of the story. We found our answer in Tagore’s storyteller and created a chorus of storytellers. Mini lives inside them – just as our children live inside us.
Justin Lewis
A Note from Jacob
Many years ago, I joined a tour group in India — a busload of Kiwis amongst whom I’d been invited as a “guide,” supposedly the link between New Zealand and my ancient homeland. Thankfully, we had a real guide, Avi, to whom I happily deferred once it became clear I knew absolutely nothing.
One of my favourite memories of Avi was him overhearing a chat about theatre. When someone declared Shakespeare the greatest writer who ever lived Avi quietly muttered, “In English, maybe.” Nobody heard but me. It made me smile and wince at the same time.
Of course, he was right. There are songs, poems, stories and plays revered in languages English speakers will never be party to. Even when translated, something essential is lost.
So it is with Rabindranath Tagore. Though the first non-European Nobel laureate for Literature, his name still draws a blank in many Western circles. If you haven’t already, I’d love you to read his short story Kabuliwala – the inspiration for this play.
To understand our Kabuliwala in a modern New Zealand setting, I spoke with migrant workers. I’m grateful for their generosity. The harrowing truth of their struggles and exploitation are better served by journalism or documentary, but their courage and grace have deeply shaped this play.
Ultimately, Kabuliwala and Balloon Dog are both stories about seeing one another, even across the barriers of culture, class and circumstance. Like people everywhere, the stories are different – but they’re the same.
Jacob Rajan
RAVI – A 57 year old New Zealand Indian man. Owner of the villa.
SARA – A 26 year old New Zealand Indian woman. Ravi’s only daughter and the mother of MINI.
MINI – a 5 year old New Zealand Indian girl. The only daughter of Sara.
KABIR – a 26 year old migrant worker from Gujarat in India.
“The Kabuliwallah” tells of the unlikely friendship between a migrant Afghani peddler and the young daughter of middle-class parents in Calcutta.
Ever wondered what it takes to get into character – right down to the teeth?
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Jacob is a founding partner of Indian Ink and co-wrote all of Indian Ink’s plays as well as performing in many of them. He is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama school, Otago University (B.Sc Microbiology) and Wellington Teacher’s College. Jacob is an Arts Foundation Laureate and a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to theatre.
Alisha is a 2023 graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. Over her time in training, she has performed in several theatre shows notably ‘The Birthday Girl’ and ‘Mimic Another’. She has also appeared in several short films like ‘Flowers of Eventide’ which she co-created.
This will be Alisha’s professional debut with Indian Ink.
In east Auckland born and raised on the playground is where he spent most of his days, chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool and playing some cricket outside of the school. Jehangir Homavazir is an untiring, exciting and vibrant young artist. A graduate of Toi Whaakari in 2020, Jehangir has since been apart of an aray of different works such as, “The Mourning After” Written and Directed by Ahi Karunaharanan, “The First Prime Time Asian Sitcom” with Silo theatre company and recently was seen in The Pop-Up Globes recent edition of “A Midsummer Nights Dream”. He has also been apart of a few screen projects, most notably a featured extra in Netflix’s “Choose Love” and Dwayne in Someday Shorts “Ballsy”. Jehangir is a proud Parsi and Zoroastrian and is always working to show off the identities and stories that make up our unique World!
David is an instrumentalist, improviser and composer for theatre and film, who has enjoyed a fruitful creative collaboration with Indian Ink for over 20 years. He has composed, performed and musically directed 9 of their shows, twice receiving “Most Outstanding Composer” at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards (Guru of Chai and Kiss the Fish).
Justin is a founding partner of Indian Ink. He has co-written and directed all of Indian Ink’s plays. He is a graduate of the John Bolton Theatre School and the University of Auckland.
Justin was one of the founders of Auckland’s Q Theatre and received a Kaupapa Oranga Award for his services to theatre.
Dramaturge for all of Indian Ink’s productions. Poet, critic and fiction writer, Murray has published many books. Worked for Living Theatre Troupe, Theatre Action, Half Moon Theatre (London), Town and Country Players (founder), and Mercury Theatre. Associate Professor (now retired) of Drama Programmes at Auckland University (1990-2014).
John has designed all of Indian Ink’s productions bar one. With over 40 years’ experience, John is a leading New Zealand stage designer with an extensive portfolio of work including productions with NZ Opera, Auckland Theatre Company, Silo Theatre, The Large Group and many others.
Elizabeth has designed costumes for New Zealand Opera, Auckland Theatre Company, NZ Festival and Auckland Festival, Silo, Court Theatre, Red Leap and Okareka Dance, Black Grace, Douglas Wright Dance, Michael Parmenter, Atimira, NZ Dance Company and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. She designed costumes for Pop-Up Theatre London for Edinburgh Festival.
Jon is a theatre designer and collaborator, illustrator, animator and sculptor, but has been primarily working as a puppeteer and puppet maker for the past eight years. Highlights include hit show Puppet Fiction (2012-18) selling out everywhere it has performed.
Sam is the Director of ARC Productions. A talented designer and stage technician, his specialty lies in musical theatre and building bespoke technical systems to amplify storytelling in new and creative ways.
Jude has spent over 40 years in the arts, initially as a freelance performer with such companies as Limbs Dance Co and Mercury Theatre, before adding stage/production management and teaching. After 26 years at NZ Opera as Head of Artistic Administration, Jude was thrilled to be invited to join Indian Ink in 2016 and add a little more “drama” to her life.
Talia Pua is a theatre-maker whose work spans across acting, playwriting, set design and puppetry. Talia picked up set design in 2023 under the mentorship of John Verryt, and has already designed for companies including Silo Theatre and Proudly Asian Theatre. Talia was part of Indian Ink’s Next Gen cohort in 2023. She is a 2025 recipient of the Arts Foundation Springboard award for theatre.
Photo credit: Andi Crown
Jude Froude General Manager
Pene Lister Producer
Naomi Campion Admin & Projects Manager
Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana (Ngāti Hikairo) Next Gen Programme Leader
Shreya Walthati Next Gen Programme Assistant
Reethi Ranasinghe, Ashlyn Wagner, Ashley Dondes, Shubra Sharma Interns/Secondees
Addington Law, Adele Mason, Alison Blain, Andrea Crichton, Anne & John MacVicar, Anne Coney, Barbara Netten, Bev & Geoff Pownall, Bridget & Simon Tompkins, Chrissie Fernyhough, David Lowe, Debbie Cook, Deborah & Ross George, Denise & Paul Vujcich, Diane & Alistair Thomson, Felicity & Ivan Willis, Fiona Taylor & John Gow, Francesca Williams, Gail & Stephen Hofmann, Georgie Knight, Gill & Brian Walker, Lady Gillian & Sir Roderick Deane, Hanna Scott & Craig Anderson, Helen Moody & Jeremy Edwards, Jane Cherrington, Janet Clarke & John Judge, Jasmine Sampson & Robert Jenkinson, Jasvinder Singh & Bryce Keith, Jenny & Andrew Smith, Jenny & Ray McElroy, Jill Oakley, Jo & John Gow, Jon Cadwallader, Kate & Hanlin Johnston, Laila Harré & Barry Gribben, Lancely & Jeffrey Law, Lyndall Hermitage, Margaret Lee, Meena & Rohit Reddy, Mike Rudd, Nicola Thomas, Pippa MacKay & Paul Stanley-Joblin, Ranjna & Kanti Patel, R F Morrison, Rebecca Langley, Sondra Wigglesworth, Sue Haigh, Susie & Richard Rowntree, Trish & John Gribben, Valmai Shearer (In Memoriam), Vincci Chang & Harvey Wang
Ranjna Patel (Chair), Craig Anderson, Liz Miller, Karin Glucina, Helaina Keeley and Sehej Khurana
Jacob Rajan (Chair), Craig Anderson, Justin Lewis and Sehej Khurana
Susheela, Isaac, Dominic & Nina Rajan, Philippa Woods, Rachel Nash, Will Mackenzie-Sole, Amar & Jass Gill, Sher Singh Manakdheri, Karandeep Singh Dhillion, Pradeep Kumar, Jenny Janif, Helen Cisowski, Elephant Publicity, November Studios, Pop That, Justin Rogers, Catherine Yates, Tessa Rao, Forum North, Clarence Street Theatre, Baycourt Community & Arts Centre and Q Theatre for their invaluable support.
Month three and we have updates from Houston.
