• 
• 
• 

There’s a theory that human beings owe their survival to their ability to tell stories. 

Certainly, the ability to tell stories has ensured the survival and award-winning success of Indian Ink Theatre Company for the last 25 years. 

Co-founder, Jacob Rajan, was asked to write some advice to his 22-year-old self for The Big Idea audience and, since Jacob is a theatre maker, he lent on his truest form of expression , in the form of a script. 

JACOB 55 

Hey, can we talk? 

JACOB 22 

Who are you? You look familiar. 

JACOB 55 

I’m your future self.  

JACOB 22 

You’re kidding. How did that happen? 

JACOB 55 

Look, I don’t have a lot of time. Do you want the good news or the bad news? 

JACOB 22 

Ah.. the bad news. 

JACOB 55 

In about 30 years there’s going to be a global pandemic.  

JACOB 22 

Wow, that sounds bad. 

JACOB 55 

Yeah, it’s bad. 

Jacob Rajan (present day). Photo: Supplied.

JACOB 22 

But clearly, I survive. Is it because of my B.Sc. in microbiology? 

JACOB 55 

Seriously? You graduated with a C minus. But scientists do come up with a vaccine. 

JACOB 22 

Oh wow, cool. Yay, us. 

JACOB 55 

Again, you’re not a scientist. 

JACOB 22 

Maybe I taught some kids who grew up to be scien- 

JACOB 55  

You’re not a teacher. 

JACOB 22 

But I’m going to teacher’s college. 

JACOB 55 

You get your teaching diploma but you never use it. 

JACOB 22 

Are you sure? 

JACOB 55 

What part of future self don’t you understand?  

JACOB 22 

Wow, does this virus make everyone crabby? 

JACOB 55 

Actually, yes. Yes, it does. We do really well for a while, and we’re a team and we’re kind and there’s no traffic and we go for walks and the smog clears up everywhere and there’s dolphins in Venice but then people argue about the vaccine and freedom and there’s variants and another lock down and America goes nuts and Russia goes nuts and we all go a little nuts for a while.  

Silence 

JACOB 22 

So, is there any good news? 

A Younger Jacob Rajan. Photo: Supplied.

JACOB 55 

You’re going to be fine. 

JACOB 22 

You don’t seem fine. 

JACOB 55 

You have a family you love, friends you love, a job you love and you are loved. 

JACOB 22 

Cool. Does my band become famous? 

JACOB 55 

Banana Revolution? 

JACOB 22 

Yeah. 

JACOB 55 

No. 

JACOB 22 

Damn. (pause) So any advice? 

JACOB 55 

Like what?  

JACOB 22 

I don’t know...“Follow your passion”, “Trust your gut”, “Seize the day”?  

JACOB 55 

There’s something called bitcoin...