20 Years of Mind Blowing Achievements

Media Release: For Immediate Release

THE INCREDIBLE SUCCESS OF INDIAN INK: 20 YEARS OF MIND BLOWING ACHIEVEMENTS

Indian Ink Theatre Company Presents
THE PICKLE KING
Written by Jacob Rajan & Justin Lewis
Directed by Justin Lewis

From humble beginnings in a rehearsal space in Wellington to playing to over 450,000 people worldwide, Indian Ink is arguably NZ’s most successful theatrical export. In 2017, they honour their incredible 20-year success with a 10-centre national tour of THE PICKLE KING, which continues to spotlight issues in our contemporary world.

It is no wonder that local NZ theatre makers and Creative NZ champion Indian Ink as one of our finest success stories. Indian Ink are leaders - in their two decades they have pioneered extensive NZ wide touring networks, forged international arts connections and developed an ever-increasing worldwide fan base. So accomplished have they been in the formidable task of getting original NZ work onto the world stage, in 2011 they secured one of America’s top agents - David Lieberman. A first for NZ!

Currently, the Belvoir Street production of their GURU OF CHAI has almost sold out weeks before opening and most impressively, they have just secured a commission from the prestigious South Coast Repertory Theatre in Orange County. Another first for this exceptional company and NZ.

Despite international fame and fortune, Indian Ink hasn’t lost its commitment to performing arts in Aotearoa. They continue to develop relevant new work and fresh talent at a relentless pace. Their current production of THE PICKLE KING is a fine example of this commitment. Reflective of current issues, the play spotlights the injustices of immigration and the plight of natural environments and people at the hands of big business. Sadly, 15 years after the script was written these issues are still as relevant as ever. However, a significant change in this vintage Indian Ink script is the love story – which now centres around a same sex couple. Whilst this would have been a real statement 15 years ago – today it just reflects the diverse culture of NZ.

Twenty years ago, company co-founder Jacob Rajan was the first Indian actor to graduate from Toi Whakaari – NZ School of Drama. Today the company has nabbed two recent Toi graduates for the leading roles in THE PICKLE KING. Star of THE ELEPHANT THIEF, Vanessa Kumar (Boys Will Be Boys, Peter Pan) and Kalyani Nagarajan (The Brokenwood Mysteries 3, Polo) are both exceptional talents and of Indian heritage. The company plans to develop solo shows with these actors to tell their stories to a new generation of Indian Ink audiences.

In addition to taking up the mantle of trailblazers, creators and leaders, Indian Ink, led by Justin Lewis and Jacob Rajan, are also winners. THE PICKLE KING itself garnered a record seven nominations in New Zealand’s theatre awards, winning the highly contested supreme award ‘Production of the Year’. THE PICKLE KING won a Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2003 and played another successful season in Singapore in 2007. Published alongside KRISHNAN’S DAIRY and THE CANDLESTICKMAKER, this trilogy is now taught as part of the NZ Secondary Schools Drama curriculum and in Universities.

It’s been 20 years since Indian Ink first captivated New Zealand with their original stories – now, 20 years on, the rest of the world is saying ‘Indian Ink – yeah I’ve heard of them’. Celebrate their incredible success and mind blowing achievements by getting out to see THE PICKLE KING as it tours to Napier, Gisborne, Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, Auckland and Wellington for what is Indian Ink’s largest tour ever!

See below for 2017 tour dates and a timeline of the Company’s milestones and successes over the past 20 years.

THE PICKLE KING NZ TOUR
4 May – 9 September 2017

GISBORNE, War Memorial Theatre
Wednesday 10 May - Friday 12 May

WHANGAREI, Forum North
Friday 19 May & Saturday 20 May

HAMILTON, Playhouse Theatre
Wednesday 24 May - Sunday 28 May

TAURANGA, Baycourt Theatre
Thursday 1 June - Saturday 3 June

CHRISTCHURCH, Isaac Theatre Royal
Thursday 15 June - Saturday 17 June

DUNEDIN, Fortune Theatre
Wednesday 21 June - Saturday 24 June

NELSON, Theatre Royal
Wednesday 28 June - Friday 30 June

AUCKLAND, Q Theatre
Wednesday 2 August - Saturday 19 August

WELLINGTON, Hannah Playhouse
Thursday 24 August - Saturday 9 September

www.indianink.co.nz #whatsworthpreserving

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