BALLOON DOG to Open at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre with Merrigong Theatre Company

Merrigong Theatre Company will present Indian Ink Theatre Company's Balloon Dog, a beautifully tender dramatic comedy by Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis, from 1 – 5 July 2026, at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.

Aotearoa New Zealand's legendary Indian Ink Theatre Company will soon enthral Wollongong audiences in a story of humour, heart, live music and pure theatrical magic, revealing we're all more alike than we think.

From theatre maker and actor Jacob Rajan and director and co-writer Justin Lewis (the mastermind team behind the acclaimed Guru of Chai in Merrigong's 2023 season), Balloon Dog is a unique chance to see an internationally acclaimed company on a strictly limited Australian tour.

When a five-year-old girl befriends a lonely migrant worker, her family unravels, forcing them to face uncomfortable truths about themselves, and the world beyond their front gate.

1800s Calcutta becomes 21st Century Auckland in this stage adaptation of the classic story, Kabuliwala, from India's beloved Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.

Founded by Justin Lewis and Jacob Rajan 29 years ago, Indian Ink Theatre Company is one of Aotearoa's most successful theatre companies – winning 13 national and international awards, critical acclaim, standing ovations and sell out seasons.

Indian Ink Theatre Company creates vibrant, fresh, culturally diverse theatre that combines artful storytelling, mischievous wit and theatrical magic to celebrate differences and connect audiences through their shared humanity.