Annie Duynhoven is an Actor, Writer and Producer, born in raised in Taranaki.
A graduate from both The Actors’ Program (2018) and South Seas Film and Television School (2014), Annie furthered her education in Comedy and Improv at ‘The Upright Citizens Brigade’, and ‘The Groundlings Theatre School’ (2019). Annie’s primary goal is to create work that she longs to see, as well as to highlight and enhance her strengths. With a background in film, Annie looks forward to transitioning those skills to theatre.
Cypha is an actor and artist hailing from Tamaki Makaurau, After being a part of Massive Nui Ensemble for several years he performed Heart Go…Boom (2023) and continued as a teaching artist with Massive Theatre Company. Most recently he was the assistant director and set designer on Oi Fred (2023) at the basement.
Cypha wants to create work that’s genuine and distinct, but grounded in the spectacle that it presents. Most of all he can’t wait to sink his teeth into all that is Indian Ink.
Emily Hurley (she/they) is a queer artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau with a multi-disciplinary practice that includes design, animation, puppetry, acting, and devising theatre. She graduated with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts from Unitec in 2018 and since then she has worked as an actor, director, designer, and an Art & Drama teacher. Notable works include “Lunar State” directed by Kate Parker, “Watch Party” , “HEATWAVE” , “The Judas Sheep” , “Kill Puppet Bill”, “The Wedding” and most recently the Pride elevates supported season of “Cowboy Dreaming”. Emily is a founder of Lunar Collaborative, a queer, feminist theatre collective that aims to support the work of critical-voice artists with a focus on experimental theatre.
Isabella Temm is an actor, director, writer and teacher who has been working full time in Tāmaki’s performing arts industry for the last four years. In 2016, she was accepted into Le Cours Florent, a bilingual acting conservatoire based in Paris, and then went on to complete a postgraduate degree with Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. Since returning home, Isabella has completed two national tours with Ugly Shakespeare Co., as well as co-adapted an original script based on Shakespeare’s epic Titus Andronicus. She has assistant directed three mainstage National Youth Theatre productions (Frozen Jr., Wendy, Oliver!) with casts of 250+ rangatahi, as well as teaching their weekly after school classes, and performed three shows with Tim Bray Theatre Co. (The Christmas Show 2023, The Magic Faraway Tree, The Twits). Isabella has also directed two of Tim Bray Theatre Co.’s incredibly popular Hit the Stage school holiday programmes. Her further training includes working with renowned UK physical theatre company Frantic Assembly’s masterclass devising workshops, acting for screen with Elena Stejko and stage combat with Marcello Marascalchi.
Next Gen will be Isabella’s first time working with Indian Ink after being a long time lover of their work. She is incredibly excited to bring fun and creativity to the mahi as well as learn from her fellow thespians!
I am a resilient and bubbly woman who thrives on being busy. After moving to Tāmaki Makaurau in 2020 and joining Massive Theatre Company’s Massive Nui Ensemble, I then went on to study at The Actor’s Program in 2021. After my studies, I travelled around New Zealand for six months, performing educational theatre in high schools. This year, I got to work with Luke George and Daniel Kok, working on their ‘Still Lives’ live art piece for Festival Of Live Art (F.O.L.A.)
I am looking forward to getting stuck into Indian Ink’s theatre making process, as well as learning about their creative and business processes. My goal for this program is to learn how to go from having an idea, to following it through all the way to performance, as well as to build a network of fellow theatre lovers who want to make work together.
Molly Tate is an actor, writer and deviser from West Auckland. Since achieving the accolade of New Zealand’s Top Scholar for Drama in 2022, Molly has been studying acting with Elena Stejko, writing original work for stage and screen, and engaging with live theatre in Tāmaki. Operating under the belief that theatre should move its audience, Molly seeks to create work that critiques society, inspires thought and incites change by engaging with audiences through relatability, atmosphere and warmth.
Muna Arbon is an actor, writer, aspiring director, and an all-round creator. She graduated with a bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts in 2017 and since then has had a varied career in the arts. She has acted for screen, theatre, and even spent a few years behind the scenes as an art director, her latest venture includes starting a production company with friends called Magnetic Boots Productions. Muna is extremely excited to be a part of Next Gen so she can continue learning and also growing her creative community.
Nikeidrian Peters graduated from Excel School of Performing Arts in 2021 with a Diploma in Stage/Screen Acting. Since then, he’s been working as a freelance actor predominantly in theatre and is also a founding member of Grindhouse Theatre. He also works as a proud furniture mover. Nikeidrian has a keen interest in covering his blind spots through this program and is excited to make new connections with other aspiring creatives. Some of his favourite things to do in his spare time include eating anything his nana cooks, reading, and hitting the gym.
Sanjana Khusal (સંજના ખુશાલ) is a Gujarati-Kiwi writer and producer based in Pukekohe, Tāmaki Makaurau. She has graduated with a Masters of Arts, specialising Screen Production at the University of Auckland. As a second-generation New Zealand-born Indian, Sanjana is inspired by the multicultural experience of living in Aotearoa. She is determined to reveal the underbelly of Aotearoa’s ethnic landscape.
Sherry Zhang is a Chinese New Zealander actor, writer and editor working across prose, theatre and poetry. She has trained with Massive Theatre Company. Her co-written play with Nuanzhi Zheng was shortlisted for the Playmarket b4 25 Award, and staged at The Basement Theatre with ATC’s Here & Now Festival in 2021. With a background in journalism and creative non-fiction, Sherry is excited to grow her creative toolkit for telling diverse and engaging stories.
Hey, I’m Shreya! I fell in love with theatre and screen in high school and haven’t stopped doing it since. I love writing and creating stories and telling them through performances. I’m always down to shoot a scene or have a laugh in rehearsal spaces with other passionate rangatahi. Other than film and theatre I absolutely love reading, cooking and going out to my favourite spots around the city. I can’t wait to work more with Indian Ink and share some more amazing art!
Tane Te Pakeke-Patterson (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hateatea) is a performer and director who graduated from Unitec in 2022 with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts majoring in Acting. Since graduating he has performed in Massive Theatre Company’s emerging artists’ production ‘Heart Go… BOOM!’ (2023) and directed his first play ‘Oi Fred!’ (2023).
Tane is passionate about work that aligns with the whakataukī “kia kawea tātou e te rēhia!” meaning “let us be taken by joy and entertainment!”
Eligibility criteria
Next Gen applications are now closed. To be put on the mailing list for applications, please email programme leader Manuka on: [email protected]
Being a part of Next Gen opens the doors to many behind the scenes with Indian Ink as the company. Workshopping new work to getting the hacks on producing theatre; the learnings and experiences were priceless. The Next Gen program is flexible and supportive.
Contact: [email protected]
I loved the community and inside eye as to how a thriving theatre company works. A huge take away for me was how much goes on behind the scenes in the writer’s room. Absolutely loved the get-aways with the company and all the time we got to spend together as Next Genners. It is so cool to now be working on Indian Ink’s latest work, Dirty Work. I have so much love towards this initiative and would encourage it to all emerging theatre artists. a
I applied for the Next Gen programme looking to upskill in acting, directing, and to try my hand at writing, and what I found was a whole new creative whānau. The team at Indian Ink are so welcoming and lovely, and every meet up was filled with laughter and great food (shout out to Jude). I’m very grateful for the people I met during this experience, and I’m excited to continue to be part of the Indian Ink community as my creative career continues. If you’d like to follow along, you can find me at @c.hloeb or @lilclodoodles on Instagram!
I consider Next Gen an invaluable experience to prepare anyone for the challenges of working within creative industries! I believe I’ve grown a great deal with help from the Indian Ink whānau and my peers within the program. I’m furiously excited about our future endeavours and grateful for the opportunity to connect with like-minded creatives. Since the program, I have helped found a collective with some formidable individuals, staging our first season together last September, with a second piece currently in development.
Find our work @somethingobscureco on Instagram
Next Gen gave me the opportunity to connect with an accomplished theatre company in a supported and safe way. We were involved in so much of the creative and the business side of theatre and I have developed skills in both areas.
I have had the privilege to work with mentors from Indian Ink since and to create a community from meeting people in the programme. I recommend Next Gen to everyone!
Alex Medland (Kai Tahu) is an actor, writer and director based in Tāmaki Makaurau. In 2019 she trained at The John Bolton Theatre School in Melbourne and since then has performed in several theatre shows including GLORIANA’s ‘The Maid’s Tragedy’ and touring Aotearoa with Duffy Books ‘Duffy in Bubble Trouble’. In 2022, she co-wrote ‘Pākehā Skin, Māori Blood’ as part of Te Pou Theatre’s Kōanga festival and directed ‘Conversations with the Ghost in my Bedroom’ for Auckland Theatre Company’s Youth Company.
Millie Ripeka Manning, a freelance actor and creative, and graduated from Unitec in 2021. On my paternal side I am Māori, from Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe and Waitaha, on my maternal side I am Dutch. I’m excited to develop my writing and other creative skills with a like-minded rōpū at Indian Ink Theatre.
Lucy Dawber is an actor/theatre maker/writer based in Tāmaki Makaurau
A graduate from the Toi Whakaari acting programme (2019) she has spent the last three years devising theatre and performing with the improv group ‘Bullrush’. Lucy’s most recently performed her solo show ‘Rich people cry too and other lessons I learnt fron Telenovela’ at the Basement Theatre for the 2022 Auckland Fringe.
Kia Ora, my name is Pennsylvania Esera. I grew up in South Auckland for most of my life and grew more in love with the creativity scene amongst the youth. Theatre has been a pocketed passion of mine within acting and has ever shadowed me to pursue it even further. I’m looking forward to working with Indian Ink next year.
Connor is an actor, writer and dancer who hails from Tairāwhiti. She is hungry to create work that plays with the nexus of words, character interaction and movement, exploring how we navigate the emotionally complex journey of life. Connor is a journalist by trade and a graduate of The Actors Program where her love for writing theatre began.
Jill is a multidisciplinary creative of Malaysian Chinese heritage, interested in telling stories about displacement, diaspora, and memory. She debuted as a playwright with ‘How To Throw A Chinese Funeral’, which was selected for Playmarket’s 2021 Asian Ink development programme and was a finalist for the 2022 Adam NZ Play Award. Prior to her plunge into theatre-making, Jill has written, directed and produced short films. She also has a background in business.
Kais Azimullah: Stage/screen is my second home – been performing in various aspects for as long as I can remember, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! It’s an escape from reality for me. Growing up training in musical theatre, my love and drive for the arts I aim developing with.
Being selected for Indian Ink’s 2023 Next Gen is a huge privilege and I’m stoked to collaborate with the company’s fantastic creatives. After interning at the company in early 2022, a desire to return and work with their creatives festered in me. And what better way to start than through the programme!
Kia ora! My name is Lachlan, and I’m stoked to be a part of Next Gen.
I’m a graduate from the University of Auckland with a bachelors in English and Drama. While studying there I came into contact with Indian Ink for the first time, watching and analysing ‘Krishnan’s Dairy’. I loved the effective simplicity of the show and it’s poignant intelligence in dealing with complicated themes. After graduating uni I travelled to London and trained professionally as an actor at Drama Studio London. Now, having worked as an actor for a number of years, I’m excited to develop my producing and directing skills in order to help tell topical, powerful, and interesting stories from New Zealand. I can’t wait to get started!
Olivia saw her first Indian Ink show back in 2013, and is extremely excited to now be a part of the Next Gen programme 10 years later. She has spent her last three years in Ōtautahi within the theatre scene and as a speech & drama teacher. She is looking forward to embarking on more theatre company performance work this year with Indian Ink.
Hi, I am Pawan. I was born in Lautoka, Fiji and grew up here in Aotearoa. My interests range from watching lots of movies, listening to music, reading, listening and playing games. The basic stuff but more than this my passion is for storytelling, which drives me to keep pushing myself. After finding my passion for drama in high school, I wanted to go even farther and so I began my studies at Unitec. Graduating with a Bachelors in Performing Arts, acting for screen and theatre. I have been interested in Indian ink since I first read their book in high school. I have wanted to work and learn with them to go even farther within my craft, to tell my stories with better clarity and vision. I am so thrilled for the opportunity.
Talia Pua, is an actor and theatre-maker. She is a co-founder and Artistic Director of independent theatre company, Hand-Pulled Collective. In 2021, Talia made her award-winning playwriting and directing debut with ‘Pork and Poll Taxes’ – a family drama set during the Chinese poll tax era in Aotearoa. With a degree in Creative Technologies, Talia is interested in combining her passion for physical theatre and design practice to create compelling visual theatre.
Toi Whakaari graduate (2019) Vincent Andrew-Scammell is an all-round creative. He has been in many devised shows in Ōtautahi, Pōneke and Tāmaki, and a couple of screen projects over the last couple of years. Vincent also co-founded the award winning improv group ‘Bull Rush’, which is about to start regular shows at basement theatre in 2023.