Playwright/Actor
Biography
Jacob Rajan - Playwright/ActorMetro Magazine, Auckland 2nd July 2010
Born in Malaysia, Jacob Rajan moved to New Zealand with his parents (who are from Southern India) at the age of four. After completing a BSC in Microbiology and a Diploma in Primary Teaching, Jacob graduated from Toi Whakaari: The New Zealand Drama School. Since graduation, Jacob has had a stellar career which he began with a journey to India to experiment with contemporary and traditional theatre forms.
Upon his return to New Zealand, Jacob played an important part - as both musical director and performer - in the Theatre at Large production of Cyrano de Bergerac. After premiering in Auckland, this production went on to the 1996 New Zealand International Festival of the Arts and both the Perth and Adelaide Arts Festivals.
Television credits include Cover Story, Shortland Street, Outrageous Fortune and the TV3 drama Fish Skin Suit, the screenplay for which was written by one of the inaugural Arts Foundation Laureates, Briar Grace-Smith. Jacob has many other stage credits to his name, including The Tempest, The Revenger's Tragedy, Vampyre Dances, Hamlet and Beauty and the Beast.
His most groundbreaking work has been the conception and performance of the 'loose' trilogy of Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestickmaker and The Pickle King. All three shows have been sell-out successes, with Krishnan's Dairy not only winning a Fringe First Award at the 1999 Edinburgh Fringe Festival but also earning Jacob a nomination for the Stage Award for Acting Excellence.
Jacob premiered his play The Dentist's Chair, which he co-wrote with Justin Lewis, as a part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival in March 2008.
Indian Ink's latest production magically brings to life a delicious brew of colourful characters. The Guru of Chai began a four-centre New Zealand tour in New Zealand began in late 2010 before seasons in Sydney, Brisbane and Singapore. "The Guru of Chai showcases Jacob at his very best and reinforces him as one of New Zealand's most hard working, deserving, disciplined and gifted theatre artists".
Kate Ward Smythe, Theatreview
Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis (Indian Ink Theatre Company) are on the books of David Lieberman, one of the USA's most influential performing artists' agents.
Jacob received an Arts Foundation Laureate Award in 2002. He lives in Wellington with his wife and children.
For more information, visit http://www.indianink.co.nz/
"Jacob Rajan fills the stage with a bewildering number of characters, with the use of very few props and even fewer costume adjustments. Rajan's posture changes with each of his characters; each is different and identifiable. His storytelling is like a series of doors opening into ever more fascinating spaces.
The Guru of Chai is pure magic, created by Rajan, his writing partner/ director Justin Lewis, and composer/ music performer Ward. Their style and sheer genius draw one into their story, ensuring that one's eyes never leave the stage. There is much laughter, balanced by the throat-catching pathos that is an essential part of any good comedy."
www.theatrereview.org.nz
