TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

'Wayang Orang Bharata' strives to preserve traditional culture

Tue, July 5, 2016   /   12:00 am
  • /

    Children play on the stage of Wayang Orang Bharata before the performance starts on June 18. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    A coordination meeting is held between the assistant director and crew, prior to the performance at the Bharata Purwa Building, Jakarta on June 18. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    A visitor buys tickets to the wayang orang show at the Bharata Purwa Building on June 18. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    Gamelan, the main musical instrument of the wayang orang show. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    An actor gets ready for the Wayang Orang Bharata performance at the Bharata Purwa building, Jakarta. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    An actor gets ready for the Wayang Orang Bharata performance at the Bharata Purwa building, Jakarta. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    An actor gets a relaxing massage before the show begins. Some of the actors are a new generation in the troupe. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    Equipment and accessories of wayang orang actors .JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    An actress gets ready for the Wayang Orang Bharata performance at the Bharata Purwa building, Jakarta. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    Two actors dress up and put on their make up for the four-hour “Remong Batik” show. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    A wayang actor plays with his gadget alongside several children before the show begins. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    An actor and an actress of Wayang Orang Bharata discuss the night's performance backstage. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    The actors practice before the Wayang Orang Bharata performance begins. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    Wayang Orang Bharata's performance, titled "Remong Batik'. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    Permadi [left] and Banowati, the main characters of the wayang orang performance titled “Remong Batik” at the Bharata Purwa building on June 18. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

  • /

    Actors and backstage crew of Wayang Orang Bharata get paid immediately after the show. JP/ Wienda Parwitasari

Wayang Orang Bharata, is the one and only wayang orang [human puppet] troupe in the metropolis. The troupe has been preserving Indonesian traditional arts by holding a wayang orang show every Saturday evening, and this particular performance was titled “Remong Batik”.

During the four-hour performance, every actor with a wayang role speaks only in Javanese. Gamelan is still used as the main musical instrument and the storyline is mostly based on the Ramayana or Mahabharata saga. [asw]

Read article 'Wayang Orang Bharata' strives to preserve traditional culture here