Inspired by Ernest Becker's Pulitzer prize-winning Denial of Death, and the vibrant, life–filled chaos of India's most cosmopolitan city, Indian Ink had the idea for this script after a trip to Mumbai in 2019.
Jacob, Indian Ink co-founder, and writer-director Justin Lewis were inspired by the city, its people and its secrets - in particular, the mystery of India's vanishing vultures.
"The fastest mass extinction of all time and we'd never heard about it. It pricked our curiosity and the more we delved into it, the more wonderfully strange it got.
"We originally started writing about Mumbai, vultures, and immortality but discovered we were actually writing about impermanence.
"It's a word that resonates with the strange times we're living in", says Jacob.
Indian Ink has been lighting up the boards at home and abroad for over two decades and the company is one of our most successful theatrical exports.
This new work has been created by the team behind many of their past hit shows – including Krishnan's Dairy and Guru of Chai.
It was in fact Krishnan's Dairy that first put them on the map and this return to the one-man-show format with Rajan at the helm, will be incredibly satisfying for Indian Ink audiences – both new and old.
"We're lucky to be in one of the few places in the world where live performance is still possible and we can't wait to share this premiere season with you before we take it to the world," says Justin.
Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream plays Hamilton's The Meteor July 7-11, and we have a double pass to give away for opening night.
You can enter by email or mail (address to Indian Ink Competition and include your name, address and daytime phone number — win@teawamutucourier.co.nz or PO Box 1, Te Awamutu). Deadline is 5pm Tuesday.
For more information check indianink.co.nz or themeteor.co.nz
