Quick Facts
Biography
Jacob Rajan, MNZM, is a New Zealand playwright and actor. His highly successful plays include the trilogy Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestick Maker and The Pickle King. Another work was The Dentist's Chair. In 2002, he received the prestigious Laureate Art Award. All of Rajan's plays, except his first, Krishnan's Dairy, were originally produced for his theatre company, Indian Ink Theatre Company, and co-written with director/writer Justin Lewis, co-founder of Indian Ink. Rajan studied acting and at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. He graduated in 1994 and has since appeared in different stage and screen productions as well as touring internationally. He appeared as Dr. Ashwin Bhashar in the television soap Shortland Street His most significant works has been the trilogy of plays which explore Indian themes, characters and stories. Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestick Maker and The Guru Of Chai have been extremely popular plays in NZ. His most recent work is Kiss the Fish. In the 2013 New Year Honours, Rajan was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to theatre.
Plays
- Krishnan's Dairy
- The Candlestick Maker
- The Pickle King
- The Dentist's Chair
- Guru of Chai
- Kiss the Fish
- Rajan and Lewis, Jacob and Justin (2005). Indian Ink: Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestick Maker, The Pickle King. Wellington: VUP. pp. 9–24. ISBN 0-86473-497-2.