Gedung Kesenian to hold Festival Schouwburg II<\/p>\n
By T. Sima Gunawan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Don't be surprised if you see people in
\nglittering outfits flocking to Gedung Kesenian Jakarta from Sept.
\n6 to 14. Gedung Kesenian is celebrating its ninth anniversary and
\nthe invitees have been asked to don clothes with gold or silver
\nelements.<\/p>\n
Gedung Kesenian is organizing Festival Schouwburg II. The
\ntheme is \"Stepping into the Future.\" Accordingly, the guests are
\nexpected to wear futuristic clothes, especially in gold and
\nsilver.<\/p>\n
\"I dare you to wear 'metal' outfits,\" Hussein Wijaya, vice
\nchairman of the Gedung Kesenian management board, said.<\/p>\n
The first Schouwburg Festival was held in 1993 with the theme
\nof \"Invitation to the Past.\"<\/p>\n
Schouwburg is the old name of Gedung Kesenian. It was first
\nbuilt on the order of Governor General Raffles in 1814. The
\nbuilding, which was no more than a bamboo shed, was a place where
\nthe British soldiers could enjoy themselves and watch shows. Two
\nyears later, when the Dutch took over Indonesia from the British
\ncolonial government the building's stayed an entertainment spot.
\nThe Dutch later rebuilt the building from scratch. It was given
\nthe name of Schouwburg and inaugurated on Dec.7, 1821. Schouwburg
\nwas a favorite destination of the Dutch elite.<\/p>\n
In 1833, the first international theater group arrived from
\nFrance performed in Schouwburg. The show lasted for two months.
\nEver since then, performing art groups have been coming here.<\/p>\n
The Japanese colonial government, which ruled Indonesia from
\n1942 until 1945, also kept Schouwburg going, as did the
\ngovernment of Indonesia after the war.<\/p>\n
But things changed in the 1970s, a few years after Taman
\nIsmail Marzuki was set up. According to Hussein, all cultural
\nactivities were concentrated at Taman Ismail Marzuki. The city
\nadministration rented the building out to a businessman, who
\nturned the playhouse into a cinema.<\/p>\n
\"That was Gedung Kesenian's worst time,\" Hussein recalled.<\/p>\n
Jakarta artists repeatedly urged the city to make Gedung
\nKesenian a playhouse again. Finally, in 1985, Governor Soeprapto
\nagreed to terminate the contract with the businessman, and agreed
\nto spend Rp 3 billion on a total renovation of the building.<\/p>\n
At first many people, including the city councilors, opposed
\nthe project, saying it was a waste of money. But they changed
\ntheir minds. The artists said the renovation of Gedung Kesenian
\nwas a question of national dignity. They argued that a dignified
\nnation should show appreciation for the arts.<\/p>\n
Governor Soeprapto inaugurated Gedung Kesenian on Sept. 5,
\n1987. The building was supervised by the Dinas Kebudayaan, the
\nCity's Culture Agency. Farida Feisol was appointed chairwoman of
\nthe Gedung Kesenian management board. Hussein Wijaya was her
\ndeputy.<\/p>\n
Not long after the inauguration, Soeprapto's term of office
\nended.<\/p>\n
\"Our hearts were pounding. Well, different officials might
\nhave different policies, you know that,\" Hussein said.<\/p>\n
To his relief, the new governor, Wiyogo Atmodarminto, gave
\nfull support to Gedung Kesenian. The current governor, Surjadi
\nSoedirdja, also appreciates the role of Gedung Kesenian as a
\nplayhouse.<\/p>\n
Farida Oetoyo -- she now uses her father's name after her
\nrecent divorce from Feisol Hasyim -- said the city administration
\npays for the maintenance, amounting to some Rp 100 million a
\nyear. Gedung Kesenian also receives Rp 30 million for the
\nprinting of its catalogs.<\/p>\n
\"We pay our employees ourselves,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Gedung Kesenian earns its income from the sale of tickets,
\nwhich cost Rp 15,000 or Rp 20,000. This is more than the ticket
\nto a performing art show at Taman Ismail Marzuki, which go for Rp
\n5,000 or Rp 10,000.<\/p>\n
Farida said she had expected Gedung Kesenian to become
\nindependent after three years. But she was wrong.<\/p>\n
Gedung Kesenian has a regular audience for dances or classical
\nmusic, but theatrical performances are usually a flop, with the
\nexception of those performed by Teater Koma.<\/p>\n
\"We also have low seasons. In January, June and also during
\nRamadhan, the business is slow,\" Farida said.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that one day Gedung Kesenian will become independent,
\nbut we can't say when,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Basically, Gedung Kesenian presents first class art groups
\nonly, which makes it different from Taman Ismail Marzuki.<\/p>\n
But Hussein said that Gedung Kesenian also gives others a
\nchance. They are allowed to use the playhouse if they agree to
\npay \"an electricity fee.\" Gedung Kesenian, however, does not list
\ntheir shows in its monthly program.<\/p>\n
Clearly, only accomplished artists can take part in Festival
\nSchouwburg II.<\/p>\n
The festival will open with a street theater by Sena Didi
\nMime, who will perform in the parking lot of Gedung Kesenian on
\nSept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. This will be followed by Farida's Sumber
\nCipta Dance Theater, featuring Areinam. The dance, which has
\nstrong Balinese elements, was created by Farida and the music is
\ncomposed by Wong Aksan, one of her sons. Her other son, Yudistira
\nSyuman, is one of the dancers.<\/p>\n
Gusmiati Suid and her Gumarang Sakti Dance Company will
\nperform Seruan (Yell) by Gusmiati.<\/p>\n
Salawat, a creation of Gusmiati's son, Boi Sakti, will be
\nstaged on Sept. 7.<\/p>\n
There won't be any show on Sept. 8 and 9.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 10 and 11, one of the country's best musicians,
\nSawung Jabo, and his wife, Susan Piper, are scheduled to present
\nBayang-Bayang (Shadows).<\/p>\n
Teater Mandiri is scheduled to perform Gerr, a comedy, under
\nthe direction of Putu Wijaya on Sept. 12 and 13.<\/p>\n
A classical music recital featuring Ary Sutedja on piano,
\nGrace Sudargo on violin and Eric Awuy on bugle will be performed
\non the last day of the festival on Sept. 14.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gedung-kesenian-to-hold-festival-schouwburg-ii-1447893297",
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