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)