Our work | Audience and market development
Indian Ink builds Asian audiences
A Singapore-based production of Auckland theatre company Indian Ink's play, The Candlestickmaker, is set to tour Dubai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong next year.
The production will be developed by Indian Ink in partnership with the Singapore Repertory Theatre. Indian Ink's Justin Lewis will direct the production, which will also use the same set design and costumes. However, it will use different actors.
"Filling the mask of Jacob Rajan is a daunting task for any actor and the hunt is now on for exactly the right person," Justin says.
In an effort to build international audiences for its work, Indian Ink performed excerpts from their work in spotlight performances at the 2005 Asian Arts Mart and then at the 2006 Australian Performing Arts Market. Creative New Zealand organises and funds a New Zealand presence at both markets.
"The huge demand for our work from Asia and also Australia is a direct result of Creative New Zealand's support for us to attend the arts markets and also to tour internationally," Justin says. "We've grown an audience from 400 when we first performed in Singapore to an audience of 6500 when we performed there earlier this year."
In the meantime, Jacob Rajan will star in a double bill of Krishnan's Dairy and The Candlestickmaker in a tour of Hamilton, Tauranga, New Plymouth and Napier from 25 October to 1 December. These award-winning shows have recently played with huge success to audiences in Singapore and Australia.
Both Krishnan's Dairy and The Candlestickmaker have been honed by years on the road, and are as sharp and fresh as ever. This year, Krishnan's Dairy has been to Australia twice and will return next year in May when the entire Indian Ink trilogy will be performed in Adelaide.
Krishnan's Dairy is the hit play that launched Indian Ink Theatre, and has won national and international awards. "Krishnan's Dairy is my dream of theatre realised," wrote the Australian Stage in 2007.
The Candlestickmaker was the second production by Indian Ink. It was commissioned by the New Zealand International Arts Festival and sold out the entire season three months prior to opening. It has toured nationally as well as internationally, wowing audiences and critics alike, and making it clear that Krishnan's Dairy was no one hit wonder.
"Seldom does one get a piece of theatre like this gem from New Zealand's Indian Ink," wrote the Singapore Straits Times in 2006
Links
The Candlestickmaker trailer
Bookings for Hamilton, Napier and Tauranga performances
Bookings for New Plymouth and Napier performances
