Free storytelling for kids and parents
Free storytelling for kids and parents
JAKARTA (JP): Two popular Indonesian storytellers Pak Raden
and Pak Djokolelono and their British counterparts, Helen East
and Rick Wilson, will perform a bulk of favorite tales tomorrow
morning at Bentara Budaya hall on Jl. Palmerah Selatan, Central
Jakarta.
The free show would be held in two sessions; from 10 a.m. to
12 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
According to Pak Raden, who is famous for his part in the once
popular Si Unyil puppet show, he and Djokolelono will tell
folkloric stories.
Among these are Tersesat di Hutan (Lost in the Forest), Timun
Mas (Golden Cucumber) and Seribu Kucing untuk Kakek (A thousand
Cats for Grandpa), he said.
"The stories will be told under the support of puppets, voices
and drawings," said Pak Raden, whose real name is Suyadi.
Meanwhile, Rick and his wife Helen from the Common Lore
storytelling group will tell several famous children's stories
from England, such as Rabbit's House and Silly Jack.
"We'll tell the stories by playing some music instruments for
the background," said Rick, a percussionist.
The four storytellers will be accompanied by noted cartoonist
GM Sudarta from Kompas daily and animator Denny A. Djoenaid to
help illustrate the stories.
The presentation is part of a series of storytelling
activities at several places nationwide conducted jointly by the
British Council and KPBA, a local non-profit organization working
to motivate children to read.
According to KPBA Chairperson Murti Bunanta, the occasion
dubbed Festival Dongeng Inggris-Indonesia, is held from March 25
to April 1 annually.
"We hold similar events every year with different foreign
partners," Murti said Monday.
Previous shows have featured storytellers from the United
States and Austria, she said.
Jane E. Campbell from the British Council said the weeklong
storytelling project started with a workshop at the Jakarta
Administration Library Tuesday.
The group performed at a local state library in the East Java
capital of Surabaya from Wednesday to Thursday, Campbell said.
After taking a rest Friday, the storytellers will perform the
next day at the Teachers Training Institute (IKIP) auditorium in
Rawamangun, East Jakarta, and at the YPAC education center for
disabled children.
After the Sunday shows at Bentara Budaya, the group, not
including the illustrators, will fly to South Sumatra to perform
at the state University of Sriwijaya Monday and a local library
the following day.
"None of the storytellers will be paid because all of us here
are volunteers for the sake of the children," said Campbell.
(bsr)