Mrs. Krishnan's Party

Artists

KALYANI NAGARAJAN 

Actor

This is Kalyani’s second role with Indian Ink following 2017’s The Pickle King. She 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.  Kalyani is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and studied in France with Philippe Gaulier.

JUSTIN ROGERS 

Actor

This is Justin’s first role with Indian Ink.  He loves musical theatre and has performed with Auckland Theatre Company, most recently in Shortland Street – The Musical.  Justin is also a magician and magic consultant for theatre. He is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.

D. ANDREW POTVIN

Production & Tour Manager 

Andrew toured extensively with Indian Ink for 2017’s The Pickle King and was the logistics coordinator for the 2015 tour of Kiss the Fish. He is the Director of Andrew Potvin Designs Ltd which specializes in tour management, business development and lighting design.

Creative Team

JACOB RAJAN

Writer

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. 
 

JUSTIN LEWIS

Writer and Director

Justin is a founding partner of Indian Ink. He has co-written and directed all of Indian Ink’s plays. He was one of the founders of Auckland’s Q Theatre and received a Kaupapa Oranga Award for his services to theatre. Justin is a graduate of the John Bolton Theatre School and the University of Auckland. 

Production

Run time: 75 minutes with no intermission.

Program Notes

The artistic partnership of Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis is now comfortably in its second decade. Inspired by a love of mask and story they continue to pursue their idea of the ‘Serious Laugh’ - opening mouths with laughter to slip serious ideas in. With a series of remarkable productions of intimate scale that blend western theatrical traditions with eastern flavours they have become one of New Zealand’s most successful theatre companies.  They aim to leave an indelible imprint on your heart; that’s why they’re called Indian Ink.

Notes from the Writers

Justin’s Notes:

Everyone loves a good party; endless laughter, catching up with friends, dancing on tables. But what if you don’t know anyone and feel self-conscious about your dancing? What if you’re not feeling a box of birds? Do you stay home or fake it till you makeit? How do you set yourself free? Onam is such a great celebration because it shows there is more to happiness than just a smile, that to know joy you must also feel sorrow, without death there can be no rebirth. Maybe a party can change your life; you may meet someone who gives you the courage to set yourself free or shows you the resilience required to be truly happy. Thanks for coming out tonight. — Justin Lewis

Jacob’s Notes:

For the uninitiated Krishnan’s Dairy was the name of our very first play. A love story set in a corner shop, the power of which caught everyone by surprise –including us. That shop has kept its doors open for 20 years, touring the length and breadth of New Zealand and throughout the world, becoming as loved and cherished as a child. The story you’re taking part in tonight is somewhat of a sequel, but don’t worry, you don’t have to have seen Krishnan’s Dairy to enjoy the party. All you need is here, in the strangers that surround you and the imagination that abounds within, and the wonder of what’s going to happen next. That moment of not knowing, of being lost and confused, excited and a little scared is really what tonight is about: change. Something has to die in order for something to be renewed. It’s a tough lesson but a constant, existing at every stage of life and extremely present for us in a world that seems to be spinning ever faster. Rather than bemoan how hard it is to get to grips with all this shifting sand we want tocelebrate the new castles we will build from it. Party on! — Jacob Rajan

Press

Justin Rogers of Mrs. Krishnan's Party Sits Down with NZ Entertainment Podcast

NZ Entertainment Podcast interviews Mrs. Krishnan’s Party's Justin Rogers about the production. Listen to the interview here. 
 

The Georgia Straight Says Mrs. Krishnan's Party "Dishes Out Laughs and Food"