REVIEW: Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream (Indian Ink)

June 13, 2021

[“The Secret to Life is Inconsistency”] From the moment the striking white lights brighten the black box of Q Theatre, Jacob Rajan captures the full attention of every audience member as Harvey Norman worker, Kutisar. He lies sprawled on a plinth, perhaps dead, or at least close to death. In swoops a Vulture, expertly animated by puppeteer Jon Coddington. The […]

REVIEW: Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream (Indian Ink)

October 27, 2020

[Enjoy a Scoop of Life] As audience members pack the rows of the TAPAC theatre, I take my seat beside a group of strangers for the first time in months. There’s an edginess to the atmosphere – a flurry of discussions around the recent Covid cases in managed isolation – and I flinch as the woman next to me coughs […]

REVIEW: Welcome to the Murder House (Indian Ink)

May 28, 2018

Brigitte Knight gives her verdict from the Wellington premiere of Indian Ink Theatre Company’s latest work. [Cell Block Vaudeville] Jacob Rajan returns to the stage for the world premiere of Welcome to the Murder House, a satirical black comedy spun from threads of historical fiction. Co-created with Justin Lewis, the work was commissioned by the South Coast Repertory Theatre based […]

REVIEW: The Pickle King (Indian Ink)

August 6, 2017

[Well Preserved] It’s a testament to the quality of Indian Ink’s storytelling that The Pickle King, the company’s 15-year old play, has stood the test of time. Those like myself who were unable to see its original production are given the opportunity to see a play that made one of New Zealand’s leading theatre companies who they are today. If their […]

REVIEW: The Elephant Thief (Indian Ink)

June 20, 2016

[Stealing the Show] One good reason to appreciate Indian Ink is that they are an established theatre company that take genuine risks in their work while cohesively maintaining a focus towards the longevity of their art. This is by no means a simple or easy achievement. To refrain from resting on artistic laurels requires exploration into new and sometimes unsuccessful territory, which can […]

REVIEW: Hiraeth (British Council NZ)

November 5, 2015

Farm girl goes free range [by Sharu Delilkan and Tim Booth] It was somewhat intriguing to see what Hiraeth would reveal at The Basement Theatre. The programme reinforced a number of sheepey, wooly-jumpery, folky stereotypes from the get-go, and to be honest paralleled many similar stereotypes believed worldwide about us Kiwis too. The story of a free-range farm girl Buddug […]

REVIEW: Kiss the Fish (Indian Ink Theatre Company)

September 15, 2013

A fish worth kissing [by Sharu Delilkan] The foyer of Q Theatre was like a Who’s Who of Auckland’s theatre industry last night – alive with anticipation of Indian Ink Theatre Company’s opening night of Kiss the Fish. Just like the masks that are used in the majority of Indian Ink’s shows, where no two are alike, we knew we […]

REVIEW: Guru of Chai (Indian Ink)

July 16, 2012

Perfect Theatrical Blend [by James Wenley] The Guru of Chai brews his tea to perfection, carefully measuring the exact combination of herbs and spices. It is an art that simmers through this play. He’s unappreciated at his stall, plagued by Starbucks.  We don’t get to sample his tea, but I’ll wager this: He’s an even better storyteller. And really, that […]