Gedung Kesenian to hold Festival Schouwburg II

Gedung Kesenian to hold Festival Schouwburg II

By T. Sima Gunawan

JAKARTA (JP): Don't be surprised if you see people in
glittering outfits flocking to Gedung Kesenian Jakarta from Sept.
6 to 14. Gedung Kesenian is celebrating its ninth anniversary and
the invitees have been asked to don clothes with gold or silver
elements.

Gedung Kesenian is organizing Festival Schouwburg II. The
theme is "Stepping into the Future." Accordingly, the guests are
expected to wear futuristic clothes, especially in gold and
silver.

"I dare you to wear 'metal' outfits," Hussein Wijaya, vice
chairman of the Gedung Kesenian management board, said.

The first Schouwburg Festival was held in 1993 with the theme
of "Invitation to the Past."

Schouwburg is the old name of Gedung Kesenian. It was first
built on the order of Governor General Raffles in 1814. The
building, which was no more than a bamboo shed, was a place where
the British soldiers could enjoy themselves and watch shows. Two
years later, when the Dutch took over Indonesia from the British
colonial government the building's stayed an entertainment spot.
The Dutch later rebuilt the building from scratch. It was given
the name of Schouwburg and inaugurated on Dec.7, 1821. Schouwburg
was a favorite destination of the Dutch elite.

In 1833, the first international theater group arrived from
France performed in Schouwburg. The show lasted for two months.
Ever since then, performing art groups have been coming here.

The Japanese colonial government, which ruled Indonesia from
1942 until 1945, also kept Schouwburg going, as did the
government of Indonesia after the war.

But things changed in the 1970s, a few years after Taman
Ismail Marzuki was set up. According to Hussein, all cultural
activities were concentrated at Taman Ismail Marzuki. The city
administration rented the building out to a businessman, who
turned the playhouse into a cinema.

"That was Gedung Kesenian's worst time," Hussein recalled.

Jakarta artists repeatedly urged the city to make Gedung
Kesenian a playhouse again. Finally, in 1985, Governor Soeprapto
agreed to terminate the contract with the businessman, and agreed
to spend Rp 3 billion on a total renovation of the building.

At first many people, including the city councilors, opposed
the project, saying it was a waste of money. But they changed
their minds. The artists said the renovation of Gedung Kesenian
was a question of national dignity. They argued that a dignified
nation should show appreciation for the arts.

Governor Soeprapto inaugurated Gedung Kesenian on Sept. 5,
1987. The building was supervised by the Dinas Kebudayaan, the
City's Culture Agency. Farida Feisol was appointed chairwoman of
the Gedung Kesenian management board. Hussein Wijaya was her
deputy.

Not long after the inauguration, Soeprapto's term of office
ended.

"Our hearts were pounding. Well, different officials might
have different policies, you know that," Hussein said.

To his relief, the new governor, Wiyogo Atmodarminto, gave
full support to Gedung Kesenian. The current governor, Surjadi
Soedirdja, also appreciates the role of Gedung Kesenian as a
playhouse.

Farida Oetoyo -- she now uses her father's name after her
recent divorce from Feisol Hasyim -- said the city administration
pays for the maintenance, amounting to some Rp 100 million a
year. Gedung Kesenian also receives Rp 30 million for the
printing of its catalogs.

"We pay our employees ourselves," she said.

Gedung Kesenian earns its income from the sale of tickets,
which cost Rp 15,000 or Rp 20,000. This is more than the ticket
to a performing art show at Taman Ismail Marzuki, which go for Rp
5,000 or Rp 10,000.

Farida said she had expected Gedung Kesenian to become
independent after three years. But she was wrong.

Gedung Kesenian has a regular audience for dances or classical
music, but theatrical performances are usually a flop, with the
exception of those performed by Teater Koma.

"We also have low seasons. In January, June and also during
Ramadhan, the business is slow," Farida said.

"We hope that one day Gedung Kesenian will become independent,
but we can't say when," she said.

Basically, Gedung Kesenian presents first class art groups
only, which makes it different from Taman Ismail Marzuki.

But Hussein said that Gedung Kesenian also gives others a
chance. They are allowed to use the playhouse if they agree to
pay "an electricity fee." Gedung Kesenian, however, does not list
their shows in its monthly program.

Clearly, only accomplished artists can take part in Festival
Schouwburg II.

The festival will open with a street theater by Sena Didi
Mime, who will perform in the parking lot of Gedung Kesenian on
Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. This will be followed by Farida's Sumber
Cipta Dance Theater, featuring Areinam. The dance, which has
strong Balinese elements, was created by Farida and the music is
composed by Wong Aksan, one of her sons. Her other son, Yudistira
Syuman, is one of the dancers.

Gusmiati Suid and her Gumarang Sakti Dance Company will
perform Seruan (Yell) by Gusmiati.

Salawat, a creation of Gusmiati's son, Boi Sakti, will be
staged on Sept. 7.

There won't be any show on Sept. 8 and 9.

On Sept. 10 and 11, one of the country's best musicians,
Sawung Jabo, and his wife, Susan Piper, are scheduled to present
Bayang-Bayang (Shadows).

Teater Mandiri is scheduled to perform Gerr, a comedy, under
the direction of Putu Wijaya on Sept. 12 and 13.

A classical music recital featuring Ary Sutedja on piano,
Grace Sudargo on violin and Eric Awuy on bugle will be performed
on the last day of the festival on Sept. 14.