Would you open your door to a stranger?
When a five year old girl befriends a lonely migrant worker her family unravels; opening them up to face uncomfortable truths about themselves… and the world beyond their front gate.
1800s Calcutta becomes 21C Auckland in Indian Ink’s stage adaptation of one of India’s most-loved stories, Kabuliwala. This beautifully tender tale reveals that we’re more alike than we think.
Our award-winning creative team bring you all the things people love about Indian Ink: humour, heart, live music and pure theatrical magic.
Be the first to see Balloon Dog in this strictly limited preview season before we tour next year to Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga, Auckland and Sydney.
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
A worthy addition to Indian Ink’s repertoire and brimming with its signature humanity and gentle comedy while not flinching from serious themes.
Balloon Dog is a loose modern-day adaptation of Kabuliwala, a fictional tale from the 1890’s penned by one of India’s most celebrated authors, Rabindranath Tagore.
