Andrew Ford
Performer - George, Raoul, Father Matthews, Quince
A comedy about love, death & preserves
Written By Jacob Rajan & Justin Lewis
Rip the lid off a jar of utterly delicious theatre, bursting with wit, wonder and the faint whiff of death.
Sasha, the blind receptionist of the crumbling Empire Hotel, knows she is cursed – everything she loves dies. But when true love finds her, she can’t help falling. One night, Death checks into the hotel.
Belly laughs combine with throat-catching pathos to create a sophisticated modern fable that is “an intelligent and hilarious celebration of human resilience” – The Scotsman
The Pickle King is Indian Ink’s most awarded play; winning an Edinburgh Fringe First, a record seven nominations at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards and the supreme accolade – Production of the Year.
For our twentieth anniversary we’ve made a significant change in this vintage Indian Ink script to centre the love story around a same sex couple. Whilst this contemporary update would have been a real statement 15 years ago – today it just reflects the diverse culture of New Zealand.
All wrapped up “in a package of good plain laughs, luminous performances and brilliant staging” (Dominion Post) this timeless tale highlights the injustices of immigration and globalisation, and having the courage to love, no matter your gender.
See the other featurettes in The Pickle King series here
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Private Show Information
What do you get?
The Company brings lighting, set, costumes, and props to your selected venue (e.g. home or office) to create a truly magical occasion for your invited audience. There is no limit to the number of guests you can invite - as long as there's enough space for them and the performers. The Artists are Arts Laureate Jacob Rajan and talented young musician Adam Ogle, supported by our stage manager who will ensure that all technical and production elements happen without a hiccup. The performance lasts 80 minutes and as an added bonus, if you wish it, Jacob is happy to chat with your guests after the show.
What does it cost?
The all-inclusive fee for this wonderul and unforgettable experience is only NZ$6,500 including GST.
Gallery
What's Been Said
This play features heart-breaking hilarity and uplifting sorrow in one breath Madelaine Empso, Regional News. 30 August 2017
The Pickle King remains both politically cutting edge and theatrically spectacular Aimee Smith, Art Murmurs. 27 August 2017
a bright beacon of excellence in our local theatre landscape John Smythe, Theatreview. 25 August 2017
Cast & Crew
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Andrew Ford
Andrew is a graduate of the Unitec School of Performing & Screen Arts (Bachelor of Performing & Screen Arts).
His theatre credits include Design for Living (Auckland Theatre Company); Peter Pan, Le Sud, The Ladykillers, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz & Robin Hood (Court Theatre); Shop ‘Til You Drop (Centrepoint Theatre); Stag Weekend (Court Theatre & Centrepoint Theatre); The History Boys (Peach Theatre Company); and Earnest (Fractious Tash). Last year he toured the country in The Complete History of the Royal New Zealand Navy (Abridged) as part of the Navy’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
His television credits include Shortland Street and Super City (Series 2).
2017 marks Andrew’s debut performance with Indian Ink Theatre Company in The Pickle King.
Kalyani Nagarajan
Performer - Sasha, Henrietta
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Kalyani Nagarajan
Kalyani Nagarajan is a graduate of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. She has studied in France with Master Clown Philippe Gaulier, where she performed Mask, Moliere and Melodrama. Productions for Indian Ink include The Pickle King and most recently Mrs Krishnan’s Party. Other performance credits include Auckland Theatre Company’s POLO, TV series, Brokenwood Mysteries, The International Comedy Festival as well as touring The Gruffalo around New Zealand and Australia. Kalyani is very passionate about her culture and representing her background in the arts industry. She practices bharatha natyam (Indian classical dance) and has a flair for accents, with many down her sleeve including Cantonese, South African, Indian, Boston and more. She wants to devise work and create comic yet heart-warming pieces that can give life and dignity to ordinary characters we usually ignore in society.
“The best performance though is provided by Kalyani Nagarajan, with her mixture of the whimsical and pragmatic approach to life. She comes across as the only real, three-dimensional character in the play with sensitive naturalism” John Daly, NBR.
Vanessa Kumar
Performer - Jeena, Henry, Ammachy
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Vanessa Kumar
Performer
A recent graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Vanessa’s previous roles include: Sue Lewis in The Battalion directed by Jim Moriarty (Te Rakau). Celia in As You Like It directed by Lisa Warrington. Mother, Lost boy and Pirate in Peter Pan directed by Daniel Pengelly (The Court Theatre).
Vanessa’s debut with Indian Ink was in 2015 & 2016 with her outstanding performance in The Elephant Thief.
Aryton Foote
Performer - Graham
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Aryton Foote
A graduate of Te Koki New Zealand School of Music, Ayrton has been an active participant of the Wellington jazz and music scene for the last couple years. He currently plays for a wide range of different bands and musicians including the likes of Rodger Fox, John Rae, The Wellington Mingus Ensemble, C-26 Salsa Band, Oy Azoy to name a few. As well as playing for local Wellington bands, Ayrton can be found playing for bands on cruise ships, and touring around New Zealand with his originals band Tawhiri Funk. Having grown up around the theatre scene in his home town of Whanganui, Ayrton was involved in local productions with lead roles in shows such as Les Miserables and Urinetown. After nearly 6 years working as a professional musician Ayrton is looking forward to returning to the stage in his debut performance with Indian Ink.
Justin Lewis
Writer & Director
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Justin Lewis
Company Director, Writer & Artistic Director
Justin is a founding partner of Indian Ink and collaborated with Jacob Rajan to create the company’s works: Krishnan’s Dairy, The Candlestickmaker, The Pickle King, The Dentist’s Chair, Guru of Chai and Kiss the Fish. Indian Ink’s productions have won numerous awards including two Edinburgh Fringe First Awards and Three production of the Year Awards in New Zealand. Justin has produced numerous national and international tours. He is Deputy Chair of Q Theatre and has been heavily involved in its development from the beginning. In 2008 he received a Kaupapa Oranga Award for his services to theatre. Justin is a graduate of the John Bolton Theatre School and University of Auckland.
Jacob Rajan
Writer
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Jacob Rajan
Company Director, Writer & Performer
Jacob is an Arts Foundation Laureate and founding partner of Indian Ink. He collaborated to create Krishnan’s Dairy, The Candlestickmaker, The Pickle King, The Dentist’s Chair, The Guru of Chai and Kiss the Fish and has performed them throughout New Zealand and internationally.
Jacob won “Best Actor” in the 2010 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for ‘The Guru of Chai’. He has also received an accolade for acting excellence and was nominated for the Stage Award for Best Actor at the Edinburgh Fringe. Jacob has featured on New Zealand TV series (Outrageous Fortune and Shortland Street). In 2013 Jacob was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the New Year’s Honours List.
Jacob’s family originates in Kerala, Southern India. He was born in Malaysia and immigrated to New Zealand at the age of four. Jacob has a degree in microbiology, a teacher’s diploma and is a graduate of Toi Whakaari – The New Zealand Drama School.
Andrew Potvin
Production & Touring Manager
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Andrew Potvin
Andrew is the Director of Andrew Potvin Designs Ltd which specialises in tour management, business development and lighting design. He has a professional theatre portfolio spanning eighteen years across New Zealand and his homeland of the United States of America. Andrew started his New Zealand portfolio in Auckland as Technical Manager of the Basement Theatre (2011), and has gone on to work with companies such as Q Theatre, Indian Ink Theatre Company and Auckland Theatre Company, mainly in design and production roles. With Tour-Makers he has co-produced national tours of The White Guitar, Triumphs and Other Alternatives, The Book of Everything, Modern Maori Quartet, Daffodils, Live Live Cinema’s Little Shop of Horrors and The Mooncake and the Kumara. Recent design credits include Auckland Theatre Company’s Guys and Dolls and Opera Factory’s The Medium.
In 2019 Andrew hits the road with Indian Ink Theatre Company as Production and Stage Manager for their international and national touring of Mrs Krishnan’s Party.
Andrew is a member of ETNZ, EVANZ and MTNZ .
Jo Kilgour
Lighting Designer
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Jo Kilgour
Jo Kilgour is an Auckland-based Technical Director & Lighting Designer with extensive touring and festival experience.
John Verryt
Set & Costume Designer
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John Verryt
Set & Costume Design
John has worked on all of Indian Ink’s productions to date. With over 30 years experience he is one of New Zealand’s leading performance designers with an extensive portfolio of work including designs for NBR New Zealand Opera, Black Grace Dance Company, Douglas Wright and Auckland Theatre Company.
Ben Wilcock
Music Director
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Ben Wilcock
Ben Wilcock is a jazz pianist originally from Hamilton, NZ.
Ben’s trio The Jelly Rolls released their debut album Sneaky Weasel to critical acclaim in 2014, and were part of the Chamber Music NZ touring roster for 2016, as well as being regular performers at NZ jazz festivals.
Ben spent 2003-2008 living in the U.K, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Indian Ink and then working as a Jazz pianist in clubs and hotels. On his return, he has worked with artists such as Bella Kalolo, Aaradhna, John Rae, Roger Fox, Bennie Maupin, Bob Moses and taught at The New Zealand School of Music from 2008 until 2014.
Recently Ben has performed in New York, Boston, Glastonbury, Australia, JavaJazz festival, Singapore, and around the UK and Europe.
He has recorded for the BBC, Radio NZ, as well as on over a dozen albums. He is now currently a lecturer of contemporary music at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Rotorua.
Conrad Wedde
Music Composer
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Conrad Wedde
Conrad Wedde is a self taught composer, who has been composing original music since his teenage years. He has playing in many rock bands and is currently a member of The Phoenix Foundation. Conrad has composed for film, documentary, dance, and multi-media projects.
The short film merci shimeree, tendre shimeree was awarded best original score in the 1999 Divas, his work on the theatre production Shudder was nominated for Sound designer of the Year at the 2000 Chapman Tripp Awards, and the documentary A Tale of Three Chimps won a certificate for creative excellence in the 2000 USA and World Film and Video Awards. Conrad runs WKDS Productions, which encompasses a recording studio and film and video production house in Central Wellington. Conrad composed some of the music as well as performing in Krishnan’s Dairy.
Inkspiration
- Justin's notes
- Jacob's notes
Having found something good, there is a temptation to want to preserve it forever. However, the act of preserving something also changes it unalterably. We’ve tried to add new ingredients to each of our shows, to make them fresh each time. Now, as we draw towards the completion of The Pickle King, I sometimes find myself struggling with a desire to bottle what has been a wonderful partnership.
In the time I have been working with Jacob, we have made three productions that have been successful beyond anything I ever imagined. We have toured nationally and internationally, ended up living with our partners and have had children. It has been, quite literally, a very fertile time. I feel very privileged to have worked with Jacob and the other wonderful people who have contributed so much to Indian Ink. I count many as my firm friends.
The figure of Death first appeared to us when studying the commedia dell’arte in Italy. Death is a stock character in the commedia; ever present in daily life, but always outwitted at the last gasp by the comic zanni (crazy servants). In these times of refrigeration and irradiated food we often try to pretend he is not there. We use medicine, science, cosmetics, diets, exercise regimes, work, and ever increasing wealth to keep him at bay. But he is as present as ever and working on this show I have come to believe that we lose sight of him at our peril – he reminds us what is truly worth preserving.
The story goes that 200 years ago there was a Maharajah, a King, whose daughter suffered a terrible illness during the course of which she went blind. The royal physicians were powerless to help her so the maharajah sent word throughout the kingdom of his daughter’s illness in the hope that a cure might be found. Doctors and holy men came from near and far. Month after month potions were made, incantations were muttered but none could help the girl. Finally, when it seemed that there was nothing more that could be done a doctor named Kaliyilal, from a far away village, came to the palace. He sought permission to treat the princess. Kaliyilal applied a poultice to the girl’s eyes. He asked that the bandage remain in place throughout the night. In the morning when the poultice was removed the princess could see. The maharajah was overjoyed. Kaliyilal was showered with gifts, gold and land. What’s more, to ensure that Kaliyilal’s knowledge was passed on, it was decreed that his descendants would never pay taxes as long as they were doctors. And for 200 years, even though the tax exemption has lapsed, there has always been a doctor in the Kaliyilal line.
I’m a descendant of that line. I never made it to medical school but this piece of family history infuses this play like garlic and chilli flavour cold pressed oil. I dedicate The Pickle King to the memory of my father, Dr Kaliyilal Luke Rajan.